Schedule for: 19w2231 - Innovations in New Instructor Training

Beverages and a small assortment of snacks are available in the lounge on a cash honour system.

In groups, participants discuss challenges and successes, and answer the prompt: “What are two challenges you hope are addressed this weekend?”

Panelists discuss what they see and hope for in university mathematics instruction, from their particular “outsider-insider” perspectives. Ed Doolittle, Kari Marken, Rina Zazkis

Many graduate student instructors are first trained in a pre-service orientation centred on drop-in tutorial centre training. Demonstrators will give an example of, and discuss, a successful component of this kind of training. Kseniya Garaschuk, Amanda Malloch

Demonstrators will give an example of, and discuss, a component of course specific training. Participants will attend one of three presentations. Lauren DeDieu: A Linear Algebra course with a writing component. Sarah Mayes-Tang: A very large first-year Calculus course for Life Sciences students. Brett Smith: A flipped first-year Calculus course.

Meet in the TCPL Foyer for the official BIRS group photo. This will be taken outside, so dress appropriately!

What are the key challenges in setting up and maintaining a dedicated instructor-training course? Three senior faculty members respond. Danny Dyer, Brian Forrest, Costanza Piccolo

What are some successful components of an instructor-training course? The demonstrator will give an example of, and discuss, two components. Carmen Bruni

The demonstrator will give an example of a presentation on presentation skills from an instructor-training course. Dan Wolczuk

What can instructors learn from actors? This discussion begins as a dialogue, and ends as an open-ended discussion involving the entire group. Kari Marken, Dan Wolczuk

Mentorship is instructor training that has the potential to stretch well beyond an instructor’s actual classroom teaching. Demonstrators will give an example of, and discuss, a component of instructor mentorship. Participants will attend one of three presentations. Cindy Blois: A mentorship program for women graduate students. Matt Coles: An instructor support group for first-time instructors. Pam Sargent: Mentorship of undergraduate TAs with instructional roles.

Project NeXT is a program that involves instructor training (among other things) across multiple institutions. What is its role in Canadian instructor training? What are some important lessons we can learn from how it was set up, and how it is maintained? Julie Barnes

We revisit the question “What are two challenges you hope are addressed this weekend?” The discussion takes place in the lobby, in two rounds. Shawn Desaulniers

2-day workshop participants are welcome to use BIRS facilities (Corbett Hall Lounge, TCPL, Reading Room) until 15:00 on Sunday, although participants are still required to checkout of the guest rooms by 12 noon. There is no coffee break service on Sunday afternoon, but self-serve coffee and tea are always available in the 2nd floor lounge, Corbett Hall.