Workshops for Graduate Students

Upcoming workshops (event calendar)

In addition to the workshop series described below, The Teaching Center develops workshops co-sponsored by departments; these workshops are tailored for graduate students in the co-sponsoring departments and are often offered as a part of a departmental TA-training course or seminar. For information, please contact Beth Fisher, director.

Workshop Series

Introductory Level
TA-Training Workshops

Advanced Level
Teaching and Professional Development Workshops
Introduction to STEM Pedagogies

TA-Training Workshops (satisfy departmental requirements)

The Teaching Center provides introductory-level workshops that introduce graduate-student Teaching Assistants (TAs) to effective pedagogical practices. These workshops are designed to be most useful when taken prior to or during the TA's first semesters of teaching at the university. Graduate students who are enrolled in departments that require their attendance at The Teaching Center's TA-Training Workshops will have priority to enroll in these workshops. After the priority-registration period expires, graduate students from any department may register. A new topic is offered on three different occasions each month, September-November and February-April. Participation in these workshops may partially satisfy the introductory-level training-requirement of the Teaching Citation.

Potential Topics

  • Managing a Classroom
  • Advising and Supporting Students: Understanding the TA's Role
  • Teaching a Discussion Subsection
  • Teaching a Laboratory Subsection
  • Teaching in Review Sessions and Office Hours
  • Grading and Responding to Students' Concerns about Grades
  • Improving Presentation Style

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Teaching and Professional-Development Workshops

This advanced-level workshop series, co-sponsored by the Graduate Student Senate, provides instruction in advanced pedagogical topics that are relevant to graduate students who are preparing to apply for a future academic position or to teach their own courses (or portions of an existing course). These workshops are open to Washington University graduate students and postdoctoral appointees. Participation in these workshops may partially satisfy the advanced-level training-requirement of the Teaching Citation.

Potential Topics

Course Planning

  • Creating and Evaluating Assignments
  • Creating and Evaluating Exams
  • Designing a Course and Preparing a Syllabus

Teaching Methods & Strategies

  • Applying Cognitive Science to Improve Teaching
  • Grading Student Writing: Designing Grading Rubrics
  • Designing Visuals to Enhance Learning and Interaction
  • Teaching Students Presentation Skills
  • Designing and Facilitating Effective Group Work
  • Incorporating Active Learning
  • Teaching and Diversity

Professional Development

  • Preparing and Delivering a Teaching Talk for the Academic Job Market
  • Creating a Teaching Portfolio
  • Applying for Academic Positions
  • Writing a Teaching Philosophy Statement

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Introduction to STEM Pedagogies (for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows)

The Teaching Center provides advanced-level workshops on topics specific to university-level teaching in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). These workshops are open to Washington University graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in STEM departments. These workshops are supported, in part, by a grant from HHMI (Howard Hughes Medical Institute). Participation in these workshops may partially satisfy the advanced-level training-requirement of the Teaching Citation and the WU-CIRTL programs.

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