Teaching as a Graduate Student

Teaching as a Graduate Student (TAGS) is the CTE’s orientation for new teaching assistants. TAGS provides an overview of equitable and learning-centered teaching and helps participants apply these ideas in contexts most applicable to TAs. Student teaching looks different across the range of UVA’s schools and departments, so TAGS focuses on foundational principles that are relevant across contexts. The material is designed primarily for those new to teaching, though experienced TAs may also find TAGS useful and valuable. Topics include:

• Creating equitable and inclusive learning environments

• Principles of learning-centered teaching

• Supporting students’ success

• Teaching the first day of class

• Facilitating effective classroom discussions

• Approaching feedback and grading effectively and efficiently

How it Works

TAGS is a hybrid learning experience. Participants will engage with the majority of the content in asynchronous online modules, followed by attending an interactive, 90-minute workshop. The workshops are offered twice a year, in August and January.

Our next interactive sessions will be held on Thursday, January 9, 2025 on Zoom during two time slots: 10:30 AM-12:00 PM and 1:00-2:30 PM. Participants should register for either the morning or afternoon time slot. In these 90-minute online sessions, small groups of new TAs meet with an experienced facilitator to discuss the online material, ask questions, and plan effective approaches to common teaching scenarios.

Participants will receive access to the online material in early December. The content remains available to everyone, regardless of their ability to attend the live sessions, but for full TAGS participation, we recommend both.

Please refer to the FAQs for additional information.