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Call for Proposals for 2012/2013 TA Training Programs

General Description Teaching Assistants make an important contribution to teaching and learning at UBC while they develop competencies and skills relevant to their professional lives. In recognition of this, the University is committed to providing educational programs specifically addressing TAs needs. The TA Training Program commenced during the 2007/2008 academic year and we are pleased to provide this opportunity again for the 2012/2013 academic year. The objective is to provide financial and consultative support to Faculties for the development, delivery, and assessment of TA training programs. In so doing, we expect a significant increase in the number of graduate students who receive training in preparation for and support of their work as TAs and broader professional development. This program supports TA training initiatives in the following ways: Direct financial support Support from the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology, including: o Consultation and developmental support, and o The services of trained facilitators, as required Departments and Faculties may propose to develop, deliver, and assess training programs independently, in consultation, collaboration, and/or participation with CTLT, CIC, and/or other units, depending on their circumstances and needs. Specific Expectations It is expected that training programs will provide graduate students with the fundamental knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary to begin their work as Teaching Assistants, recognizing that these attributes will be learning context-specific. Proposals should identify the knowledge, abilities, and skills that TAs will develop as a part of their training. For inquiries about the TA Training Program, and support in developing and delivering your program, contact Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT) Joseph Topornycky joseph.topornycky@ubc.ca. TAs must also be prepared to interact with diverse student populations as part of their teaching duties. Preparing TAs to effectively engage with sensitive issues and situations is considered a critical part of their professional and scholarly development. This is reflected in university strategic priorities (http://strategicplan.ubc.ca/) and proposals will be expected to identify how TAs will be prepared to address this element of their duties. CTLT in collaboration with the First Nations House of Learning (FNHL) is now able to provide advice and support for the development of these aspects within training programs. For more information, please contact Amy Perreault (pamy@exchange.ubc.ca). Please be advised that the funding from this program cannot be applied to pay participants to take the TA training. Departments can consider the following options to encourage participation among TAs:

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1. Offer the program on a voluntary basis. With appropriate promotion/encouragement and the high quality of the program, which TAs will perceive as being of a significant benefit to them, this approach should result in broad voluntary participation. 2. Make the program compulsory and factor the training time into the TA appointment. This approach will require re-thinking of the TAs instructional loads to accommodate the necessary training components. 3. Create a credit bearing graduate course that would be a pre-requisite for TAs in their program. Some departments have already developed and approved through Senate academically rigorous graduate courses that are focused on learning and teaching within their discipline and which incorporate key aspects of a sound TA training program. Should this option be selected, the Department can apply for one-time financial support to develop the required course through this fund. Initial Consultation As part of the changes to the TA Training Program in 2012-13, all programs are requested to consult with Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT). During this consultation, CTLT will work with you to: confirm the availability of the Centres resources, should CTLTs consultation be requested advise of existing programs that can optimize the efficiency of the program assist in developing a schedule for implementation discuss how program requirements are being met/addressed Progress Report Faculties currently receiving funding will need to submit a one-page progress report to the Office of the Vice Provost and Associate Vice President Academic Affairs and Resources. This report will outline training delivered to date and budget remaining, as well as feedback on the programs offered and adjustments to the program based on this feedback. A reporting template will be provided. Final Report It is further expected that Departments and Faculties receiving funding will submit a brief report, to the Office of the Vice Provost Academic Affairs and Resources by May 10th, 2013. This report will include: a. Description of the delivered curriculum and format of the training program; b. Adjustments on the program based on feedback collected; c. The total number of participants (by department, if applicable) and elements of the program completed; d. An assessment of the program, including data (quantitative and/or qualitative) from shortterm measures demonstrating the degree of achievement of expected learning outcomes; e. A statement regarding recommendations for future iterations of the program.

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How to Apply Proposals should contain the following: a. Statement of the competencies that graduate students will be expected to develop as TAs in the target programs; b. Departments who directly engage with Aboriginal history, cultures, or systems of knowledge as a part of their curriculum or regular departmental operations must have a component in their program to train and support their TAs on Aboriginal engagement; c. An overview of the kinds of social and cultural diversity that TAs will encounter in the classroom and in the curriculum, and what needs to be done to prepare TAs for these encounters. Departments are encouraged to consider that resources available to address Aboriginal engagement be considered for this part of the TA Training. This aligns with the Universitys strategic priority to ensure that Aboriginal perspectives are reflected in the university environment http://strategicplan.ubc.ca/the-plan/aboriginal-engagement/; d. Proposed methods for the development of these competencies (recognizing that these methods may be refined with further planning and consultation with CTLT, CIC, or other relevant units on campus). It is expected that the program will have a pre-service component for new TAs; e. Statement of the resources required to conduct the training, including ways in which consultation with units might be integrated, and any related costs.* This will also include a clear indication of a per-trainee cost; f. Estimate of the expected number of participants and a description of methods by which participants will be recruited for training, as well as the total expected number of new and continuing TAs in the department or Faculty in 2012/2013 academic year; g. Timeline for the training; h. Short term and longer term methods to document the impact of the program; i. Description of how TAs in your department or faculty were consulted in the development of this proposal and how TAs will be involved in the development and delivery of the TA Training Program; j. Description of consultation in the development of the proposal, and/or involvement of support units in the proposed program (please confirm with appropriate unit[s]); k. Principal applicant information. All correspondence will be directed to the principal applicant. This person is responsible for the overall coordination of the program and the distribution of any funds received. To help applicants with service-related budget planning, please refer to the following information provided by CTLT. If you are relying on collaboration with other support units, please connect with them directly regarding their costs prior to finalizing your proposal. *Sample costs for a Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT) seminar 2012/2013 For the 2012/2013 year, seminars facilitated by the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT) start at $626.00 (for a minimum 2-hour session). CTLT staff are available to assist you with program, proposal, and budget development; please contact Joseph

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Topornycky, Instructional Developer (CTLT) for more information (joseph.topornycky@ubc.ca): 3 hours preparation and planning required for every hour of contact time $36.00/hour per facilitator Workshops are co-facilitated $30 minimum for materials/supplies/copies

Training is also available to prepare TAs in your department to facilitate their peers. The proposal should not exceed five (5) pages. In cases where existing Departmental / Faculty-based TA Training Programs already meet all of the current program requirements and will not change, successful recipients of the TA Training funding from previous years can resubmit the same proposal and include a one-page (1) interim progress report together with the Application. Proposals should be submitted to Anna Kindler, Vice Provost and Associate Vice President Academic Affairs and Resources, c/o (jola.holt@ubc.ca) by March 12, 2012.

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