TA Guide: Explore Professional Development

Continue Growing as a Teacher

For TAs at Any Career Stage

Except where noted, these opportunities are open to all UW–Madison TAs at any stage in their graduate career.

Workshops & Courses

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Chinese Names Pronunciation Workshop for TAs

Learn Chinese speaking tips and practice the skills needed to pronounce students’ names in this in-person workshop.

Delta Program in Research, Teaching and Learning

Engages graduate students and postdocs in professional development in teaching, mentoring, outreach, and advising. Programming includes workshops, panels, courses, learning communities, and graduate certificates.

The Discussion Project

An in-person or online synchronous course for university instructors on how to design, implement, and facilitate high quality classroom discussion  to improve student learning.

Enhancing Online Education

Webinars and online micro-courses where instructors apply evidence-based strategies and receive expert guidance for designing and teaching online and hybrid courses.

Exploring AI in Teaching

Programs that support instructors in learning about the opportunities and challenges of generative AI in teaching and learning along with strategies to use  within courses.

Graduate Student Suicide Prevention Training: Recognize, Respond, Refer

An asynchronous Canvas course that will guide you through best practices in supporting students in severe mental distress.

Learn@UW

Trainings on Canvas and other campus-supported learning technologies.

Teaching at UW

Workshops that explore a variety of evidence-based approaches to course design and teaching.

WISCIENCE

Courses and programs that build inclusive, evidence-based teaching skills in STEM, ranging from a course for new STEM TAs to build core skills (IntegSci 605) to courses and programs that offer in depth professional development in college-level STEM education.

Communities & Connection

 

Peer Observation Program – Hosted by L&S but open to all TAs. Connect with fellow TAs  from across campus to give, receive, interpret, and apply peer feedback.

TA Networks – Community-building and resource-sharing for graduate student instructors who may face similar challenges in the classroom. There are currently sever Networks for TAs to join based on their course type and experiences in the classroom. All TAs are welcome to attend any TA Network session!

 

Consultation & Services

 

Consultation on teaching – In a one-on-one consultation, a teaching and learning specialist can help you design course activities and assignments, select and use learning technologies, and solve teaching challenges.

Feedback on teaching – Request a trained facilitator to help you identify strengths and areas for growth in your teaching by visiting your discussion/lab section while you are not present to gather confidential student feedback and perspectives.  SIFT (open to all TAs) or SGID (for College of Engineering TAs)

Learn@UW – Consultations on working with Canvas and other campus-supported learning technologies.

For Experienced TAs

Awards & Recognition

 

Campus-Wide TA Awards – Outstanding TAs are recognized annually in four categories: Early Excellence, Advanced Achievement, Capstone Teaching Awards, and Excellence in Community-Based Learning. Nominations are typically due in October and are submitted by departments. If you are interested in being nominated for an award, please reach out to contacts in your department.

L&S Teaching Mentors [for L&S TAs only] – Passionate and knowledgeable TAs who work closely with the L&S TA Training & Support Team to facilitate trainings and mentor TAs. Nominations are typically due in February and are submitted by departments. If you are interested in being a Teaching Mentor, please reach out to contacts in your department.

Trainings & Communities

 

Certificate in Higher Education Teaching and Learning  – Equips graduate students with the pedagogical tools to become more effective and inclusive educators in the college classroom, in undergraduate research mentoring, in the community, and beyond.

Delta Internship – Develop teaching and learning skills in real-world situations by working through an authentic teaching-as-research project; fulfills requirements to earn the Delta Teaching & Learning Practitioner badge.

LSA Course Design Jumpstart by L&S – A workshop series offered each spring semester to support graduate student lecturers of summer courses.

Returning TA Workshop by L&S – Experienced TAs will have an opportunity to connect with peers, discuss common teaching challenges in a supportive environment, and advance their teaching practice. Offered in-person each fall semester.

College of Engineering ReTA Workshop Series –  Four workshops are offered throughout the semester on different topics. Attendance at at least one workshop satisfies returning TA training requirements for College of Engineering TAs, but they may attend as many as they’d like. TAs from other colleges who are interested in a particular topic are welcome to attend these workshops, with the understanding that it may be designed with an engineering focus.

Teaching Academy – Hosts regular events on teaching and learning that are open to the entire UW community. Experienced TAs can also apply to become a member.

WISCIENCE Teaching Fellows – Year-long fellowship programs for graduate students to gain in-depth training and practical experience teaching college-level science (at UW-Madison or Madison College), with a focus on inclusive, evidence-based teaching.

Guide Homepage | Essential Trainings | Get Support with Difficult Situations