Skip to main content

Support for Teaching Assistants (TAs)

Professional development opportunities related to teaching

GCOLL 516: Explorations in Pedagogy

Are you curious about teaching? Learning? Do you want to know more about practices that create engaging learning environments and which support all students? GCOLL 516 is open to all graduate students looking to improve their own teaching or to better understand how learning works.

GCOLL 597: Designing College Courses

Are you already teaching or TA-ing a course at Boise State and want to learn more about how to do it in a way that supports student learning? Or do you want to teach in the future and need some training in how to do so? GCOLL 597 is open to all graduate students looking to improve their own teaching or to better understand how to build a course from start to finish.

College Teaching Preparation Program

This is an opportunity for graduate students to engage in professional development around teaching and learning in higher education. The structure of the program is flexible and can be completed by taking two 1-credit courses or completing workshops on your own time. Through the activities you complete, you’ll learn to (1) apply backward course design principles, (2) implement effective learning activities, (3) assess student learning, and (4) develop learning environments that support the success of all students. Visit the College Teaching Program website for more information and sign up for the program with this form.

CTL workshops

The Center for Teaching and Learning sponsors workshops and other events to provide Boise State instructors with opportunities to reinforce best practices in teaching, learn from colleagues, and reflect upon the choices we make as teachers. These workshops are open to all instructors including graduate TAs. Find the CTL workshop schedule here.

Teaching resource collections

These universities have developed collections of teaching-related resources which may be particularly helpful to you as a TA or new instructor: 

Campus resources 

As an institution, we have many offices on campus that support students to thrive, support us as instructors, and offer us ways to engage with the Boise State community.  As an instructor or TA, there is value in knowing these offices exist, so you can reach out to them when you need them.  

Using Canvas

Canvas is Boise State’s learning management system. The links provided here will help you learn more about Canvas and how to use it. 

Other teaching-related technologies

Qualtrics: Qualtrics is a robust survey software available to all Boise State students and faculty. Accounts are auto-provisioned by logging in with a Boise State username and password at the Boise State Qualtrics link.

Panopto: Panopto is the easiest way to record, live stream, manage, and share videos across Boise State.

National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD)

Boise State’s institutional membership in NCFDD creates access to faculty development programming that complements what is offered by the CTL and other campus-based units.  The NCFDD is dedicated to supporting academics in making successful transitions throughout their careers. All faculty, postdocs, and graduate students at Boise State University have access to member resources including webinars, writing challenges, and more.  Go to the website to set up an account!