Resources to Improve Teaching
There are many ways to improve your ability to teach undergraduates effectively. The key is to remember that teaching is like any other professional pursuit - it’s always a good idea to strive to improve and to seek input and feedback. Some excellent written resources follow. Use them to stimulate new ideas and approaches in your teaching!
TA Guide to Instruction
This is the whole text of the guide handed out at the TA Orientation. To save paper, the TA Consultants distribute only a shortened version.
UCD TA Guide complete text (PDF)
Individual Sections: Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Getting Started
- Yikes! I’m the TA!: Navigating Your First Teaching Experience
- Icebreaker Activities: Creating a Positive Classroom Atmosphere from the Beginning
- Tips for International TAs
- Running Laboratory Sections
Chapter 2: Developing Classroom Skills
- Leading a Discussion
- Tips for Encouraging Participation
- Giving Clear Presentations
- Clear Presentation Checklist
- Adding Flavor to Your Lectures
- Helping Students Learn to Solve Problems
Chapter 3: Supporting Instruction
- Grading Student Work
- Example Grading Rubrics
- Holding Office Hours
- Helping At-Risk Students Succeed
- Running Review Sessions
Chapter 4: Becoming Professional
- UC Davis Principles of Community
- Creating Inclusive and Engaging Classrooms
- Ethics of Teaching
- Preventing and Detecting Plagiarism
- Reporting Academic Misconduct
Chapter 5: Improving Through Time
- Professional Development for TAs
- Opportunities for TAs
- Building Your Teaching Portfolio
- The Teaching Resources Center’s Services and Programs
Teaching Tips
The following tip sheets are quick-reference guides to address specific situations and questions related to teaching undergrads.
- Active Learning
- Encouraging Participation
- Learning Styles
- Teaching Philosophies
- Teaching Lab Sections
- Grading Labs and Problem Sets
- Rubrics: A Grading Tool
- International TA Tips
Please contact the TACs, tac@ucdavis.edu, if you’d like tips on a topic not covered here.