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 TA Program
TA Orientation Details
The international program consists of intensive English language assessment, practical assistance from the Slutzker Center for International Services (such as assistance with immigration, banking, and insurance), small group meetings lead by teaching fellows and general sessions on topics such as "Graduate Education at American Universities" and "What is a TA?"
The general program focuses on teaching. Large-group seminars and concurrent sessions led by Syracuse University faculty members and experienced TAs address general topics such as "Encouraging Active Learning," "Assessment of Student Learning" and "Cross-cultural Communication in the Classroom." TAs attend more specialized programs, such as laboratory instruction, critiquing in the arts or designing a syllabus, which are appropriate for their particular teaching situations and interests. They also participate in small-group, interdisciplinary workshops conducted by the 24
teaching fellows -- experienced TAs selected on the basis of their scholarship and outstanding performance in the classroom. In the popular "microteaching" exercise, teaching fellows videotape presentations delivered by each new TA and then lead small groups in constructive critiques. Throughout the orientation, small groups discuss issues related to teaching, graduate student life and common classroom problems.
The three-day departmental component introduces TAs to graduate and undergraduate curricula and departmental practices. They also receive an orientation to their assigned teaching duties. These orientation activities are planned and implemented by the individual academic departments.
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