Instructional Support Basics for Undergraduate Teaching Assistants

Course Description

This digital course, Instructional Support Basics for Undergraduate Teaching Assistants, will provide the basic information you'll need as you embark on your journey as a UTA at University of Maryland. You’ll think through expectations of your new role, learn about important policies and resources, and get tips for communicating effectively with your students.

Important notes:

• While the title UTA is used throughout this training, it is relevant to any undergraduate student serving in a classroom support role (undergraduate teaching fellows, learning assistants, peer mentors, etc.)
• This training does not replace FERPA training. Any TA involved in the grading process should make sure they have communicated with their supervising instructor and taken FERPA training to learn important student privacy rules.

Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of this digital course, you will be able to:

• Feel prepared for your first day as a UTA.
• Understand relevant course policies and what they mean for your role.
• Begin applying best practices for communicating effectively with students.
• Know where to find important safety resources.

Content

1. Prepare for your new classroom role
2. Understand relevant course policies
3. Communicate effectively with students
4. Familiarize yourself with student safety resources 

Expectations

This digital course consists of 4 lessons, which altogether should take approximately 90 minutes to complete. Additional resources or tips for further exploration are provided at the end of each lesson. Each lesson culminates in a knowledge check to confirm what you have learned and to enable you to move on to the next lesson.

Intended Audience

UMD students serving in classroom support roles (UTA, UTF, ULA, peer mentor, etc.)

Digital Badge

By completing this course, you will earn your Instructional Support Basics for Undergraduate Teaching Assistants micro-credential. To receive recognition for your efforts, simply explore each page and tackle all knowledge checks within this course.

UMD Users Only