New TA Conference

The New TA Conference (NTAC) is training for all new teaching assistants at Northwestern. Over one day, participants explore strategies and philosophies of good teaching in workshops led by more experienced graduate students. After a brief orientation, new TAs work with an NTAC Workshop Leader or Graduate Teaching Fellow from their discipline (or a a closely related discipline) to learn about specific strategies for teaching effectively within their departments. New TAs then select from several concurrent workshops facilitated by NTAC Workshop Leaders and Center staff. In every session, participants are encouraged to reflect on their own teaching approach and practice techniques for leading discuss sections, labs, problem-solving sections, or lectures.

                            Registration | Conference Agenda | NTAC Workshop Leaders

Comments from Past Participants:

Role playing put us in control, [we] learned the "hard" way that we will be dealing with all types [of students]...[The Workshop Leaders gave us] a lot of chance[s] for us to give input--not just talking at us.
-New TA, Chemistry

I learned a lot about various grading strategies/criteria. It was very interesting to hear from people in different disciplines. I learned about lots of different teaching styles. How to anticipate and address problems in the classroom. [Our Workshop Leader gave] lots of practical application, [used] brainstorming sessions, [and gave] pointed and applicable feedback.
-New TA, Performance Studies

Contact Tom Popelka with questions about the New TA Conference.