TA Fellows

Overview

The Teaching Assistant Fellows (TAF) program provides extensive professional training for outstanding Northwestern TAs who are in the second year of their program or beyond. Participants are selected each spring in a competitive process that looks at demonstrated excellence and creativity in teaching. See a list of present and past TA Fellows.

Responsibilities

TA Fellows
  • Participate in summer training
  • Master key learning theory
  • Develop and deliver sessions at New TA Conference

Contact

Tom Popelka, Program Associate, 847-491-3106

Application Form

Applications for the TAF program will be available online by February 15. To complete the application, you will need the following materials:

  • CV
  • Letter of interest (specifically address your interest in the TAF program AND reflect on your teaching experiences)
  • Teaching evidence (possible examples of teaching evidence can include but is not limited to: CTECs; letters from students; sample handouts, assignments, or syllabi; letter of support from a professor who has observed your teaching)

Important Dates

Applications Due Friday, April 19, 2013
Interviews April 22 - May 10, 2013
2012-13 TA Fellows Announced May 13, 2013
2012 Training (required) Tuesday, June 25, 9 AM - 4 PM
Thursday, June 27, 9 AM - 4 PM
Tuesday, August 27, 9 AM - 4 PM
Thursday, August 29, 9 AM - 4 PM
New TA Conference (required) Thursday, September 19, 2013

Benefits

  • Receive instructional design training and experience
  • Develop advanced teaching skills
  • Become more familiar with research on learning and teaching in higher education
  • Can request a teaching letter of support from the Center
  • Enhance their teaching portfolios for the academic job market
  • May become Teaching Consultants

Comments from Past TAFs

I met TA Fellows from other disciplines who wanted to learn more about teaching. It was great to meet so many people who took teaching seriously who wanted to improve their teaching methods.
- TA Fellow, Industrial Engineering & Management Sciences

[The TAF Program] has enabled me to focus sustained time and attention on my teaching...I have already seen my own teaching improve, as I was able to apply some of what we read and talked about in my current course.
 - TA Fellow, Communication Studies

I found my participation in the program a tremendous opportunity to get hands-on, well-guided experience in workshop design and teacher training. The readings and workshop preparation sessions gave me a new framework in which to reevaluate my experiences as a TA and to strategize for future teaching.
 - TA Fellow, Performance Studies