Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) play an important role at the University, carrying out responsibilities significant to the learning experience of students in their schools and departments. They are accountable to their students, the course instructor, the University and to themselves for their quality of teaching performance. It is expected that GTAs in collaboration with the course instructors offer the best-quality teaching to help students fulfill the course requirements. Having double obligations, to their own studies and to their teaching, GTAs have to make an effort to balance their loads and functions in the University. GTA Training Program provided by Center for Education Innovation (CEI) every Fall and Spring semester is offered to all GTAs in preparation for their teaching duties. All new GTAs are required to fulfill the program requirements by attending all core workshops to get acquainted with hands-on teaching skills applicable to various teaching roles. The program also helps GTAs find value of teaching in their own learning and professional development.

GTA Program aims to:

Introduce the roles and responsibilities of GTAs in HKUST

Introduce the basic teaching and presentation skills to facilitate new GTAs’ teaching in HKUST

Familiarize GTAs with the teaching and learning resources at HKUST

Foster and enhance GTAs’ communication with faculty, Teaching Assistant Coordinators (TACs) of the department, Postgraduate Programs Coordinators (PGCs) and CEI

Enhance the professional development of GTAs to prepare them for lifelong career development

Introduction

elcome to the Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) Training Program!

In this booklet, you are provided with all the important information about the Program, including:

An overview of the Program

Program schedule arrangement in Fall 2018-19

Detailed descriptions and schedule of workshops available in Fall (Appendix 1 to 2)

Details about registration procedures

Contacts of Teaching Assistant Coordinators (TACs) and Postgraduate Programs Coordinators (PGCs)

Information in this booklet may be changed in future. You are suggested going to the Program website (http://cei.ust.hk/ta/tahome04.htm) for the most up-to-date information.

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GTA Training Program

Taking up the GTA role can be quite challenging at HKUST, and it requires a combination of knowledge and skills, together with right attitude, to deliver effective teaching. A series of six core workshops are offered cover-ing fundamental teaching skills applicable to teaching across all disciplines.

TA104 Canvas Basics TA111 Effective Teaching SkillsTA112 Marking & GradingTA113 Effective Presentation Skills for TeachingTA122 Classroom Management TA123 Techniques for Interactive Teaching

The program also offers elective workshops for GTAs to further develop teaching and learning-related skills.

Canvas Extended

In the core workshop (Canvas Basics), GTAs have learnt the basic functions of the learning management system used in HKUST. For GTAs who want to know more about Canvas and use it to its full potential, they can register for the workshops below.

TA104 II a Canvas Extended (Assessments and Grading)TA104 II b Canvas Extended (Turnitin Assignments)TA104 II c Canvas Extended (Student Group Work)

Learning through Practice

The following workshops allow GTAs to master, apply, and practice teaching strategies learnt in the core workshops as becoming effective in teaching requires practice and feedback. In these workshops, GTAs can try and experiment the knowledge and skills acquired in a supportive environment, and receive feedback from peers and instructor for further improvement.

TA201 Developing Instructional StrategiesTA202 Teaching Demonstration – Advice and StrategiesTA203 Engaging Students with Learning ActivitiesTA204 Facilitating Group Work and Discussions

lective Workshops

ore Workshops

This Briefing Session is organized to assist new GTAs in understanding more about their roles in the university and for the department. In the first part of the session, you will learn about GTA Training Program and what support CEI will provide throughout your course of service. In the second part, you will meet your departmental peers, and members of the faculty and staff who will work closely with them on GTA duties.

The session is scheduled on 23 August 2018 (Thursday). Participation of new GTAs who have completed programs registration on 17 and 18 August is expected as it is the necessary first step to prepare for taking up teaching duties at HKUST. Two different sessions will be held for the participation of GTAs from different Schools (please refer to page 6 for details).

New GTA Briefing Session

6 Mandatory Core Workshops

Program Requirements:

Facilitating Group Work and Discussions

Engaging Students with Learning Activities

Teaching Demonstration - Advice and Strategies

Developing Instructional Strategies

Canvas Extendedcanvas

lective Workshops

Techniques for InteractiveTeaching

Effective Presentation

Skills for Teaching

Effective Teaching Skills

ClassroomManagement

Marking andGrading

Canvas Basics

canvas

ore Workshops

GTA Training Program Structure

The program provides training in basic teaching skills for all new GTAs before assuming duties for the department. It is compulsory for all new GTAs to participate in the 6 core workshops (totaling 9 training hours), which give GTAs foundation and knowledge to be able to handle a tutorial or a laboratory session with confidence. The program also offers a series of optional extended workshops covering more supplementary teaching techniques to build GTAs’ capability of teaching effectively. All GTAs are required to attend at least four core workshops on offer in the first semester to become acquainted with essential skills before being assigned with teaching duties. GTAs who successfully complete the program requirements in the two years of program admission will obtain the Certificate of Achievement.

GTA Training Program 2018-19

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Who needs to register?

Online registration is required for all GTAs (HK graduates, non-HK graduates, current with incomplete workshops) who want to attend CORE / ELECTIVE workshops offered from September to October. Students are recommended to register early to secure a seat in the workshop of your choice.

What do I need for registration?

An ITSC network account is required to enable online registration. You can activate the account at http://www.ust.hk/itsc/account/stuacc/enquiry.

Where and when can I register?

You can check the schedule of workshops on offer and register for the preferred session through the TA Online Registration System by visiting http://cei.ust.hk/taprog on/after 23 August 2018. After registration is completed, you can check your enrollment status on the website and a reminder will be sent to your ITSC email account a day prior to the workshop.

Can I register for a workshop if it is full?

All seats are filled on a first-come-first-served basis. If the workshop session is full, the system will still allow you to register for the session; however, you will be put into the waitlist. If a seat becomes available due to drops and withdrawals, the registration system will generate an email to the ITSC account notifying you of the available seat. As such, if you are waitlisted for a workshop, you must check your email regularly.

What do I need to do if I cannot attend a registered workshop?

If you cannot attend the registered workshop, you need to unregister from the workshop through the system to release the seat for others. Since the system does not accept double registration, if you have not successfully withdrawn yourself from an unattended workshop before it starts, your re-registration request for another session of the same workshop will not be accepted.

Online Registration

Workshops: TA104, 111, 113, 122

• Workshops are offered in multiple repeated sessions.

• GTAs can choose to attend the workshop session that works best for your schedule.

Workshops: TA112 and 123

Have NOT obtained a degree from a university in Hong Kong

Non-HK Graduates

Workshop: TA123

Workshop: TA113

• Multiple repeated sessions of TA113 are offered throughout the semester.

Workshops: TA104, 111, 112, 122

• HK-graduate GTAs are put into four groups (A-D) according to School and Department.

• GTAs who are required to participate in the sessions will receive email from CEI around mid-August.

Have obtained a degree from a university in Hong Kong

HK Graduates

/

Spring Semester

Sep – Oct 2018

(Needs online registration)

Aug 2018

(No online registration)

Study Schedule (Core Workshops Only)

New GTAs are streamed into two groups according to their education backgrounds and have a different program study schedule. Detailed arrangement and workshop timetable can be found in Appendix 2.

GTA Training Program

For GTAs from School of Engineering (SENG)

Date: 23 August 2018Venue: Lecture Theatre – JTime: 10:30am – 1pm (Report attendance at 10:10am outside LT-J with your student card.)

For GTAs from School of Science (SSCI) / School of Business and Management (SBM) / School of Humanities and Social Science (SHSS) / Interdisciplinary Programs Office (IPO)

Date: 23 August 2018Venue: Lecture Theatre – JTime: 2pm – 4:30pm (Report attendance at 1:40pm outside LT-J with your student card.)

New GTA Briefing Session

Program Schedule and Arrangement

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TA104 Canvas Basics

Canvas is a comprehensive and user-friendly Learning Management System acquired by the University to support its changing learning and teaching needs. This hands-on session will introduce you to the suggested workflow of Canvas and guide you through key basic features such as creating course content, managing the course learning path, communicating with students and monitoring their learning progress.

TA111 Effective Teaching Skills

This workshop intends to equip GTAs with some practical and handy teaching skills. By the end of the workshop, GTAs should be able to (1) describe the roles and duties of being a GTA at HKUST, (2) identify instructional techniques that facilitate student learning, (3) experience some effective teaching strategies and (4) prepare for the first day of teaching.

TA112 Marking & Grading

Basic principles of marking and grading will be introduced by engaging GTAs in a simulated marking exercise. By the end of the workshop, GTAs should be able to (1) describe some basic principles of marking and grading, (2) mark in a fair and consistent manner, (3) provide meaningful feedback, and (4) deal with cheating and plagiarism.

All new GTAs are required to complete the core workshops offered in Fall 2018. For detailed workshop timetable, please refer to Appendix 2.

ore Workshops

GTA Training Program Briefing Session

This briefing session is essential for all new research postgraduate students who are appointed as graduate teaching assistant (GTA) and required to perform teaching related duties either in the Fall or Spring semester of 2018-2019. All GTAs at HKUST should complete the GTA Training Program before they commence the GTA duties. This session will let GTAs have a better understanding of the program structure and requirements, schedule arrangement, and registration details.

Departmental GTA Briefing Session

GTAs are required to perform teaching duties assigned by their home department, ranging from reading and grading assignments; running tutorial or lab sessions; invigilating tests or examinations; holding office hours to answer students’ questions; and managing courses in the learning management system. In this session, GTAs can hear from their departmental Postgraduate Programs Coordinator (PGC) and/or Graduate Teaching Assistant Coordinator (TAC) on the specific arrangement and requirement of the teaching duties within their department, and learn from experienced GTAs on strategies to perform teaching duties effectively.

New GTA Briefing Sessions

Appendix 1: Detailed Workshop Descriptions Attendance record

You can check your attendance on the online registration system after the workshop is held. For walk-in participants who sign-in to the workshop manually, there may be a few days of delay in attendance upload.

GTA’s attendance records for all sessions will be reported to the Department and PG Programs Coordinator by the end of every Fall and Spring semester.

Signing attendance for others or signing in without attending is strictly prohibited. Attendance for such cases will NOT be counted and will be reported to the departmental PG Programs Coordinator. The instructors reserve the right to conduct second attendance-taking in class to confirm class attendance of students.

Latecomers or early leavers are tolerated for a window of 10 minutes (except for the Canvas Workshop Series, the maximum allowance of which is 5 mins). Instructors have the right to decline entry to late students in order not to disrupt the class in progress. Class attendance of the latecomer and early-leaver who have exceeded the time limit mentioned above will not be counted.

Bad weather arrangement

If a Black Rainstorm Warning is issued within 2 hours before the workshop starts, the workshop will be canceled. In-progress workshops will continue until the end.

If a Typhoon Signal No. 8 is to be issued within 2 hours before the workshop starts, the workshop will be canceled. In-progress workshops will be suspended immediately.

If Signal No. 8 or a Black Warning is canceled 2 hours before the workshop starts, the workshop will be held as scheduled.

If the Amber or Red Rainstorm Warning or Typhoon Signal No. 1 or 3 is issued, all workshops will be held as scheduled.

Cancellation of workshop

CEI reserves the right to cancel any workshop of fewer than 10 registrants for core workshops, and 5 registrants for elective workshops. Notice of cancellation will be sent to your ITSC network account. You are recommended to check email for updates before coming to the workshop.

General enquiry

For further enquiry about the GTA training program, please feel free to contact your graduate TACs or CEI staff (taprog@ust.hk). You may also visit the GTA Homepage (http://cei.ust.hk/ta/index.html).

Note: The GTA Training Program complies fully with the University’s regulations for student conduct and academic integrity (http://tl.ust.hk/integrity/regulations-1.html).

Further Information about GTA Training Program

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TA201 Developing Instructional Strategies 19 September

This workshop is designed for GTAs to work out meaningful learning objectives for different types of classrooms, develop instructional skills to facilitate learning in class in order to meet learning objectives. GTAs are encouraged to bring along some course examples to make the practice more specific to their teaching needs.

TA202 Teaching Demonstration – Advice and Strategies 4 October

Having sound subject knowledge does not mean that one can teach well. It is important for GTAs to go through the whole process from planning and rehearsing to teaching and reflecting. This participant-led mini-teaching session allows GTAs to teach a topic or explain a conceptual theory by applying all the pedagogical skills learnt. By the end of this workshop, they will receive feedback and advice from instructors and master more strategies for clearer presentation and explanation.

TA203 Engaging Students with Learning Activities 18 October

Are you trying to make the classroom more interactive and engaging? Designing suitable tasks aligned to the learning objectives and assessments is as important as facilitating them to student learning. In this workshop, GTAs will be given chances to incorporate interactive teaching techniques in their lesson plan and try facilitating them for feedback.

TA204 Facilitating Group Work and Discussions 31 October

To maximize student learning, GTAs are often encouraged to facilitate group discussion or design group activities. Yet, many GTAs are distressed by the silence and unresponsiveness of students, or confronting tensions built in groups. In this workshop, GTAs can utilize different facilitation tools, reflect about the dynamics of group learning, and foster / bring forward ways to cope with challenges.

TA104 IIa Canvas Extended (Assessments and Grading) 12 October

This is one of the Canvas Extended series that focuses on the advanced setup and grading of assignments. The hands-on session will cover available options when setting up assignments, assignment weighting, various types of quiz questions, grading with SpeedGrader/rubric/peer review, using gradebook, and viewing quiz statistics. (TA104 Canvas Basics is a prerequisite.)

TA104 IIb Canvas Extended (Turnitin Assignments) 19 October

This is one of the Canvas Extended series that shows you how originality check can be done on student assignments. The hands-on session will guide you through the setup of assignments with Turnitin and the interpretation of Turnitin reports. We will also share with you Dos and Don’ts when working with Turnitin in Canvas. (TA104 Canvas Basics is a prerequisite.)

TA104 IIc Canvas Extended (Student Group Work) 26 October

This is one of the Canvas Extended series that focuses on the facilitation of group work. The hands-on session will guide you through the creation and management of student groups for online discussion, collaboration and submission of group work. (TA104 Canvas Basics is a prerequisite.)

All elective workshops are offered for registration in Fall 2018. Please refer to Appendix 2 for the workshop timetable.

lective Workshops

TA113 Effective Presentation Skills for Teaching

This workshop aims to introduce some effective in-class presentation strategies for GTAs. Group activities and discussions will be adopted to ensure that after the workshop, GTAs will be confident in preparing, developing, and delivering successful presentations for teaching.

TA122 Classroom Management

In this workshop, GTAs will learn how to manage a class for more effective teaching and learning. GTAs will be provided with (1) basic key strategies to minimize the chance of having classroom disruptions, and (2) advice on handling different disruptive situations when they occur.

TA123 Techniques for Interactive Teaching

The aim of this workshop is to enhance the effectiveness of classroom teaching by increasing interaction between teachers and students and student peers. By the end of this workshop, GTAs will be able to (1) describe the benefits of interactive classroom, (2) experience various interactive activities, and (3) identify common issues when implementing interactive activities, and (4) find ways of handling different issues.

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AM: 10:30 – 12:00 Noon: 12:30 – 14:00 PM: 15:00 – 16:30

AM: TA111PM: TA111

AM: TA104PM: TA104

AM: TA111PM: TA111

AM: TA122PM: TA122

AM: TA104PM: TA104

AM: TA122PM: TA122

AM: TA113PM: TA104

AM: ---PM: ---

AM: TA113PM: TA113

AM: TA204

AM: TA202PM: TA122

AM: TA113PM: TA113

AM: TA203PM: TA111

AM: TA113PM: TA113

AM: ---PM: ---

Noon: TA104IIa

Noon: TA104IIb

Noon: TA104IIc

AM: ---PM: ---

AM: TA122PM: TA113

AM: TA104PM: TA111

AM: TA122PM: TA122

AM: TA104PM: TA104

5

12

19

26

4

11

18

25

3

10

17

24

31

2

9

16

23

30

1

8

15

22

29

OCTOBERMon Tue Wed Thu Fri

AM: TA111PM: TA111

AM: TA122PM: TA123

AM: TA113PM: TA113

AM: TA111PM: TA111

AM: TA112PM: TA122

AM: TA201PM: TA104

AM: TA104PM: TA104

AM: TA112PM: TA123

AM: TA123PM: TA122

AM: TA113PM: TA104

AM: TA111PM: TA111

AM: ---PM: ---

AM: TA111PM: TA111

AM: TA122PM: TA113

7

14

21

28

6

13

20

27

5

12

19

26

4

11

18

25

3

10

17

24

SEPTEMBER

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri

For All GTAs

Remark: GTAs who are required to participate in these sessions will receive email from CEI around mid-August. No online registration is required.

3 Sep (Mon) TA111: 10:00 - 11:30 TA122: 13:00 – 14:30 TA104: 15:00 – 16:30

4 Sep (Tue) TA112: 10:00 – 11:30

SBM & SHSS & IPO & SSCI (OCES) & SENG (TLE)

Group

D

29 Aug (Wed) TA111: 10:00 - 11:30 TA122: 13:00 – 14:30 TA104: 15:00 – 16:30

31 Aug (Fri) TA112: 15:00 – 16:30

SENG (ECE, MAE, BIEN, IEDA)

Group

C

28 Aug (Tue) TA111: 10:00 - 11:30 TA122: 13:00 – 14:30 TA104: 15:00 – 16:30

31 Aug (Fri) TA112: 10:00 – 11:30

SENG (CBE, CIVL/EVNG, CSE)

Group

B

27 Aug (Mon) TA111: 10:00 - 11:30 TA122: 13:00 – 14:30 TA104: 15:00 – 16:30

30 Aug (Thu) TA112: 15:00 – 16:30

SSCI (LIFS, CHEM, MATH, PHYS)

Group

A

For HK Graduate GTAs Only

This schedule is for your reference only. GTAs will need to register for the required workshop at the preferred time slot through the online registration system (http://cei.ust.hk/taprog) to secure the seat. The availability of workshops may change according to the enrollment situation and should any alternation be made regarding the schedule, only the information on the online registration system will be updated. In the event of any discrepancy in the information between the two versions, the online information shall prevail.

Classroom arrangement: All core and elective workshops are conducted in Room 6558 (lift 27/28). All participating GTAs need to arrive at the classroom 10 minutes earlier for attendance-taking.

Appendix 2: Detailed Workshop Timetable

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You are encouraged to contact your departmental TACs for any query about the GTA Training Program, and your duties and responsibilities as a GTA in HKUST.

Appendix 3: Contacts of Graduate Teaching Assistant Coordinators (TACs) and Postgraduate Programs Coordinators (PGCs)

Dept PGC / Faculty in charge Email

School of Science

LIFS Prof Pingbo HUANG bohuangp

OCES Prof Hongbin LIU liuhb

CHEM Dr Hongkai WU chhkwu

MATH Prof Yang XIANG maxiang

PHYS Prof Bradley FOREMAN phbaf

School of Engineering

CBE Prof Tom LUO keztluo

BIEN Prof Shuhuai YAO meshyao

CIVL/EVNG Prof Ilias DIMITRAKOPOULOS ilias

CSE Prof Ke YI yike

ECE Prof George YUAN eeyuan

IEDA Prof Rachel ZHANG rzhang

MECH/MAE Prof Kai TANG mektang

School of Business and Management

SBM Prof James LANCELOT lancelot

School of Humanities and Social Science

HUMA Prof Jingtao SUN hmjtsun

SOSC Prof Li HAN lihan

Interdisciplinary Programs Office

ENVR Prof Jianzhen YU chjianyu

Dept Graduate TAC Email

School of Science

LIFS Miss YOU Ying Ying yyouaa Miss ZHAO Qirui qzhaoaf

OCES Mr YAN Neng nyanaa

CHEM Mr WANG Dong dwangan

MATH Mr ZHANG Lian lzhangay

PHYS Mr YAN Caishan cyanae

School of Engineering

CBE Miss LIU Zhenjing zliubp Mr WU Hsiwen hwu

BIEN Ms ZHAO Mingqian mzhaoad

CIVL/EVNG Mr WANG Xueying xwangai Mr WANG Chao cwangbh

CSE Mr YUE Xuanwu xyueaa Ms WANG Pei pwangai

ECE Mr CHEN Xuanqi xchenbr Mr WANG Li lwangbk

IEDA Miss FU Xiaojin xfuab

MECH/MAE Mr YANTO Jefry jyanto

School of Business and Management

SBM Miss CHEN Yi-Chun ychenci Mr XU Chenjie cxuab

School of Humanities and Social Science

HUMA Miss ZHOU Yingyi yzhoubm

SOSC Ms LUO Wei wluoad

Interdisciplinary Programs Office

ENVR Mr WONG Wai Hin whwongaq

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