View Online Version
Campus-wide TA Award Nominations Open through Nov. 17 
Nominations for the Campus-Wide TA Awards are open now! Any graduate student who has worked as a TA may be nominated, including LSAs. This means you do not have to currently be TAing to be nominated! Check with your teaching department to learn their nominating procedure or seek nomination.

These awards celebrate outstanding graduate student teachers across the University. Graduate students with more than 3 semesters of teaching are eligible for the Advanced Achievement Award. The Capstone Teaching Award celebrates PhD candidates in their final year.
Nomination Information

  Mid-Semester Feedback  

How is your teaching going? Gathering feedback from your students can help you:
  • learn about student experiences in your classroom
  • get feedback on a new approach
  • help students reflect on their learning
One simple way to ask for feedback is to use a survey. Check out this article from the L&S Instructional Design Collaborative for sample survey instruments, question guidance, and tips on responding to feedback.

Resources to learn more:
  • the Student Instructional Feedback Technique (SIFT) from the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Mentoring
  • "Interpreting Student Feedback" from the L&S Instructional Design Collaborative

  Grading Well on a Deadline  

Simple steps can help you assess student work fairly while using your time efficiently. Some tips to try:
  • Grade all responses to the same question together.
  • Skim a sample of the assignment submissions before grading.
  • Create a bank of comments.
Read 10 tips from the L&S TA Training & Support Team.
 

Teaching Tips from Experienced Graduate Student Instructors 


Teaching Mentors serve as facilitators at TA Training by L&S. Those selected to be Teaching Mentors have a proven track record of excellence as educators and a strong desire to mentor others.

This Week's Teaching Mentor: Rebecca Laurent is a graduate student in the Sociology Department (environmental justice and culture)

"Grading on a deadline" with Rebecca Laurent

Grading is hard. And, you got this. Be reflexive about your biases, but also trust yourself. You are probably fairer than you think, and your decisions are not the end of the world for anyone. To save time and energy, focus on the big picture in terms of grades and comments. Highlight a couple of larger issues you see and capture the grade the assignment deserves as a whole. Also, be sure to save your comments! You’re probably using them over and over since students tend to make the same mistakes. A quick copy/paste (or even general reminder/announcement to the class) saves the day.
Ready for a fun break? The TA Training & Support Team invites all graduate student instructors to decompress and connect at the next Sanity Hour! This month’s theme is “Games & Snacks”; so put down the red pen and join other grad students for some casual games, playful competition, and relaxed conversation. Come recharge in a supportive community (your sanity will thank you)! No preparation needed—just bring yourself. Today, October 16, 4:00-5:30PM, Van Vleck B115.
 
Learning Forward is brought to you by the L&S TA Training & Support Team.
 
 
L&S Teaching & Learning Administration
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN–MADISON
307 South Hall  |  Madison, WI 53706
Privacy Policy  |   Unsubscribe
 
 
Feedback, questions or accessibility issues: teach.learn@ls.wisc.edu