Orientation for New Graduate Teaching Assistants August 13-15, 2012 Sponsored by The Graduate School and The Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT) The University of Kentucky

Four TA “Types” at UK Type 1: Independent instructor of a course Type 2: Instructor but directly supervised by course/lab coordinator Type 3: Assistant to primary instructor (e.g., in recitation sections) Type 4: Grader or other supporting role outside the classroom

Other than a source of funding, why should I value my teaching assistantship? Allows for frequent reinforcement of your discipline’s fundamental principles Provides practice at expressing these principles to a general or novice audience Provides you with membership in an active and dynamic learning community, one with common goals and common struggles

Your TAship... Helps prepare you for your qualifying exams Opens door to a possible career as a faculty member. (Note: You might consider our Preparing Future Faculty program, which offers a Certificate in College Teaching and Learning.)

“I wish that, when I began teaching, I had viscerally understood that teaching and research are integrally related, and that they reinforce each other; there should not be separation between the two.” -- Jay Parini, Middlebury College From The Art of Teaching

Goals of the TA Orientation Why are you here? To learn about key campus resources (offices and people) that will help you succeed not only as a TA, but also as a graduate student and professional.

Why are you here? To learn about general policies and procedures central to your role as a TA at UK. (In your departmental orientation, you will learn about the specifics of your role.)

Why are you here? To begin (or for some of you, to continue) to strengthen your repertoire of modes and techniques of effective teaching, and to practice self-reflectivity as a scholar and teacher.

Why are you here? To enter into a lively and timeless conversation on the vitality, challenges, and rewards of college teaching, “the old struggle.”

Why are you here? To practice the vital skill and art of communicating your academic discipline and research to an audience who may need convincing of its value (undergrads, public, media, etc.).

Why are you here? Finally, to reflect on your influential role in the lives and career choices of UK’s undergraduates. You are a mentor and role model to them.