Certificate Programs
The TATP offers certificate programs for graduate students at the University of Toronto. Our certificate programs are designed to provide students with specialized training in key areas of teaching and learning. Whether you are looking to strengthen your foundational teaching skills, explore innovative educational technologies, design engaging courses, foster inclusive and anti-oppressive pedagogies, or document your teaching journey, we will have a certificate program tailored to your needs and interests. We believe that these certificate programs will not only enhance your teaching effectiveness but also enrich your overall experience as a TA or Course Instructor. They will provide you with valuable resources, networking opportunities, and a supportive community of fellow educators. Registration for all certificate programs is housed in our certificate management system EVE.
Certificate Programs
Explore the TATP's certificate programs.
Past Certificate Programs
Information regarding the AUTP and TF certificates offered previously by the TATP. As of January 2024, students will no longer be able to register for these certificate programs
Metacognition
Transform your learning journey by reflecting on your professional development experiences with the TATP
Articulating Your Professional Development Experience
Looking for guidance on how to effectively communicate and articulate your TATP experiences? Visit this section for some ideas.
Certificate Programs
The TATP offers seven certificate programs designed to support flexible and personalized professional development for teaching assistants and graduate students.
Each certificate had its own completion requirements. Once you’ve met them, you’ll receive a certificate recognizing your commitment to teaching development and reflective practice. Registration for all of the TATP’s certificate programs are in the TATP registration system EVE. If you do not have an EVE account, you can sign up using your UTORid.
TATP Certificate programs fall into two categories:
In these programs, you choose from a variety of certificate-eligible workshops offered throughout the year. You decide which workshops to attend based on your interests and availability.
Foundations of Teaching in Higher Education
Build the core knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to support student learning in higher education
Accessible and Inclusive Teaching
Develop equitable, accessible, and inclusive teaching practices that foster belonging and student success.
Educational Technology
Learn to use educational technologies intentionally to create engaging, accessible, and collaborative learning experiences.
Course Design
Design effective courses, lessons, and assessments that align with learning outcomes and support student achievement.
Building Your Teaching Dossier
Reflect on your teaching journey and develop a compelling narrative of your teaching experiences and growth.
These programs follow a more structured format. You join a group of participants and move through a set sequence of workshops and activities together. This format encourages deeper engagement, peer learning, and a strong sense of community.
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
Investigate teaching and learning through scholarly inquiry and develop evidence-informed approaches to educational practice.
Foundations of Teaching in Higher Education
Through a series of interactive workshops, you will gain the necessary skills to effectively communicate with and support your students. You will explore effective student-centred practices for working effectively in teaching teams (of Teaching Assistants, Course Instructors, and other student support staff), and adapting diverse facilitation strategies, models, and practices for online, hybrid and in-person teaching. You will also learn about how to integrate EDIA and universal design principles in your teaching to address institutional and systemic barriers to and inequalities in student learning. Gaining this foundation in learning design, you will come away with a toolkit that will enable you to plan effective learning experiences and reflect on the learning that results from them.
Learning Outcomes
- Implement effective practices for communicating effectively and professionally with students and teaching teams
- Explore and adapt diverse strategies, models and practices for supporting student learning in online, hybrid and in-person teaching.
- Integrate EDIA and universal design principles in your teaching to address institutional and systemic barriers to student learning.
- Apply principles of learning design to plan effective learning experiences, and to reflect on the learning that results from them
Transferable Skills
- Communicate effectively and professionally.
- Effective planning and content delivery via online, hybrid and in-person environments.
- Establish leadership skills for developing and fostering supportive and inclusive communities of diverse persons.
Requirements
- 10 hours of workshops:
- At least 2 hours of Foundations of Teaching Workshops
- At least 2 hours of Accessible, and Inclusive Teaching Workshops
- At least 2 hours of Educational Technology Workshops
- Up to 4 hours workshops in any category
- 30 minute written reflection
Accessible and Inclusive Teaching Certificate
This certificate will introduce you to different theoretical frameworks and strategies for creating a more accessible, equitable, and inclusive teaching practice. Through a combination of interactive, skill-building workshops, you will learn the principles of inclusive, equitable and accessible teaching. Further, you will build awareness and capacity to engage with anti-oppressive and decolonial approaches to teaching and learning from a variety of critical, reflexive, and culturally responsive pedagogies. The practicum component will provide opportunities to translate knowledge into action. You will reflect on how your identities, lived experiences, values, and commitments inform your teaching identity, and apply the skills and tools you have developed to foster equity, inclusion and belonging in your teaching practice.
Learning Outcomes
- Engage with different theories, concepts, principles and strategies foundational to equitable, inclusive, accessible, and anti-oppressive education and apply this knowledge to your own teaching practice.
- Reflect on the interconnections between identity, power, privilege, and bias and understand why these matter in teaching and learning contexts.
- Apply a range of practices to create accessible (AODA-focused) content and learning environments.
- Articulate your values and commitments as they relate to EDIA and anti-oppressive education in your teaching practice.
Transferable Skills
- Communicate effectively and professionally.
- Effective planning and content delivery via online, hybrid and in-person environments.
- Establish leadership skills for developing and fostering supportive and inclusive communities of diverse persons.
Requirements
- 8 hours of Accessible and Inclusive Teaching Workshops
- Microteaching Session or Teaching Observation
- 30 minute written reflection
Educational Technology Certificate
In this introduction to teaching with educational technologies, you will explore best practices for integrating educational technologies to enhance learning in in-person, hybrid and fully online classrooms. You will start by building an understanding how technologies can enhance student learning, as well as key considerations and limitations when integrating digital tools and strategies. From there, you will explore practical design considerations when using educational technologies to make learning more accessible, inclusive, engaged and collaborative. You will have the opportunity to identify teaching challenges and explore solutions using educational technology supported by U of T. By applying EdTech integration models and effective pedagogical approaches, you will come away with practical experience and the technological curiosity and confidence to facilitate teaching and learning using institutionally supported tools and/or in technologically enhanced active learning classrooms.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the importance of using educational technologies to enhance learning in in-person, hybrid, and fully online classrooms.
- Identify technological affordances and limitations when integrating digital tools into in-person and/or online teaching
- Explore practical design considerations when using educational technologies to make learning more accessible, inclusive, and collaborative
- Apply EdTech integration models and pedagogical approaches to institutionally supported tools and/or technologically enhanced active learning classrooms
Transferable Skills
- Selecting and integrating appropriate EdTech tools to collaborate, communicate, create, innovate, and solve problems.
- Demonstrating a willingness and confidence to explore and use new or unfamiliar digital tools and emerging technologies
- Managing the use of EdTech respectfully, inclusively, safely, accessibly and ethically gathering and synthesizing information to define needs and problem-solving strategies.
- Forecasting and predicting changes in the landscape of technology in industry and academic settings.
Requirements
- 8 hours of Educational Technology Workshops
- Microteaching Session or Teaching Observation
- 30 minute written reflection
Course Desgn Certificate
In this introduction to course design, you will explore a range of course design models and practices for online, hybrid, and in-person teaching. You will gain both a theoretical knowledge and practical understanding of how and why to align course components (learning outcomes, assessments, and teaching practices) for effective learning experiences. After attending a series of interactive asynchrnous modules and workshops that introduce course design models and practices, you will be able to choose from a range of practicum options that allow you to develop teaching skills and resources, from lesson preparation and delivery to syllabus and assessment design. You will have the opportunity to apply principles of backward design, integrated course design, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and/or EDIA practices to improve student engagement and learning. By the end of this certificate, you will reflect on your upcoming teaching context and set goals for designing course elements to support your students’ learning experiences.
Learning Outcomes
- Explore a range of course design models and practices for online, hybrid and in-person teaching.
- Align course components (learning outcomes, assessments, and teaching practices) for effective learning experiences.
- Apply principles of backward design, integrated course design, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and EDIA practices to improve student engagement and learning.
- Reflect on your goals for an upcoming teaching context and develop applicable skills through your choice of a practicum component
Transferable Skills
- Facilitation and mentorship: coaching, guiding, and mentoring; facilitating effective learning experiences in a range of modalities
- Project management and problem-solving: planning, designing, managing, and implementing projects with well-defined goals and outcomes; predicting, identifying, and solving problems;
- Innovation and analysis: innovating and adapting to change; gathering, synthesizing, and responding to large amounts of information\Communication: actively listening; providing, receiving, and incorporating feedback; developing rapport and working with diverse audiences; motivating and inspiring people
Requirements
- 6 hours of Course Design Workshops
- 2 hour asynchronous course design module. This component must be completed prior to attending a peer review session.
- Peer Review Session for syllabus or assessment
- 30 minute written reflection
Building Your Teaching Dossier
Through a four-part series of asynchronous modules, you will reflect on your own teaching identities, learn about the purpose of teaching dossiers, and come away with a plan for how to document and articulate your teaching experiences, teaching development, and teaching-related activities for non-academic, alt-academic and academic careers. After identifying and assessing your teaching values, instructional strategies, and impact on student learning through the modules, you will attend a Statement of Teaching Philosophy (STP) Clinic to get peer feedback on a draft of your own statement. You will identify the context and purpose of your STP and teaching dossier and determine how best to align the various sections of your dossier with a cohesive narrative about your teaching. Throughout this process, you will be encouraged to view your teaching dossier as a living document and a valuable tool for your career exploration, as STPs and other professional documents, when combined, help to draw important connections between personal values and professional goals.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand teaching dossiers and their purpose for your professional development;
- Devise a plan/system for gathering and documenting teaching experience, teaching development, and teaching-related activities;
- Develop a Statement of Teaching Philosophy (STP) through a deep reflection on your teaching values, instructional strategies, and their impact on student learning;
- Learn strategies to align the various sections of your dossier into a cohesive narrative about your teaching.
Transferable Skills
- Effective communication strategies to a diverse audience through storytelling. data literacy; measurement, analysis, and synthesis; graphic and visual design; ability to locate, gather, and organize complex information; analysis and synthesis of data for the purpose of reflection and professional development.
- Give and receive feedback through active listening, as well as being open and responding constructively to change.
- Self-directed learning; evaluating progress; setting and accomplishing goals (planning for and achieving your learning goals); fostering a growth mindset
Requirements
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Certificate
Running Winter 2027
This cohort-based certificate offers an introduction to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), guiding you step by step through the stages of doing an inquiry or research on your own teaching practice. Each session will explore the complex SoTL landscape by examining diverse approaches to research, scholarship and inquiry on teaching and learning. You will interrogate a range of theories of learning, research design models, strategies for research (formulating effective research questions, writing a research proposal, getting ethics approval, etc.), collecting and using data, and disseminating research results. Throughout the interactive sessions, you will explore key SoTL trends and translate these skills and knowledge into a final deliverable: a research proposal or a knowledge translation tip sheet
Learning Outcomes
- Recognize a range of scholarly methodologies and disciplinary practices used to examine what takes place inside the classroom.
- Identify the key trends in current scholarship of teaching and learning and translate this knowledge into a final work product.
- Ask meaningful questions about the impact of your teaching practices on student learning.
- Engage in dialogue and idea exchange to inform teaching practices and develop methodologically sound processes for future reflection and action.
Transferable Skills
- Communicating in writing and verbally; expressing ideas and reflections clearly and concisely; writing skills (editing/proofing); persuasion; communicating to a non-specialist audience.
- Attending to details; extracting information; thinking critically; developing evaluation strategies; cultivating data literacy; measuring, analyzing, and synthesizing.
- Self-directed learning; evaluating progress; promoting change; sharing credit; fostering a growth mindset.
Requirements
1. 10 Hours of in-person Workshops
- Introduction to SoTL
- Effective Library Research for SoTL
- Methodologies Toolkit: Qualitative and Quantitative Strategies
- Working with Data in SoTL: From Collection to Interpretation
- Celebrating SoTL Creativity: A Showcase of Ideas and Insights
2. Practicum Requirement (5 hours). Choose one of the following options
- Project Proposal Outline
- Annotated Bibliography
- Knowledge Translation (5-3-1 Tipsheet)
- Teaching Practice Improvement Plan
3. 30 minute reflection
Dates and registration information coming December 2026.
Past Certificate Programs
The TATP has until recently offered two (2) certificates for University of Toronto students. Please note that as of January 2024 students will no longer be able to register for these certificate programs. Current registrants will have the option of completing their certificates, or registering in one or more of the pilot certificates listed below.
This basic or introductory-level certificate is open to currently registered students at the University of Toronto who are interested in improving their teaching skiils, and who are currently working as teaching assistants, or who soon will be. You do not have to hold a teaching appointment at the time of registration in order to register for this certificate.
Requirements: 6 TATP Workshops, Written Reflection
As of January 2024 there are no longer any workshop breadth requirements and participants may complete any 6 workshops towards the Teaching Fundamentals Certificate.
This certificate is for currently-registered University of Toronto graduate students only. It is not open to undergraduate students. It targets those Masters and PhD students who are intending to pursue a teaching career in academe. You do not have to hold a teaching appointment at the time of registration in order to register for this certificate.
Requirements: 10 TATP workshops, Two Teaching Practicum Components (Microteaching or In-Class Observation), Teaching Dossier, Written Reflection
As of January 2024 there are no longer any workshop breadth requirements and participants may complete any 10 workshops towards the Advanced University Teaching Preparation Certificate.
Metagognitive Reflection
Metacognitive Reflection for Enhanced Professional Development
Metacognitive reflection is a powerful tool to elevate your professional development and transform your learning journey. By embracing metacognitive reflection, you move beyond traditional learning methods, delving into the depths of your educational experiences to enrich your teaching practices.
The Importance of Metacognitive Reflection
Metacognition, often defined as “thinking about thinking,” holds a pivotal role in education. It empowers you to plan, monitor, assess, and adapt your learning behaviors and attitudes, ultimately enabling you to tackle challenges more effectively. This reflective practice nurtures your capacity for critical thinking by facilitating the interpretation, integration, and articulation of knowledge. In today’s dynamic higher education landscape, the ability to teach metacognition has become increasingly essential across diverse academic domains.
Key Benefits of Metacognitive Reflection
Participating in metacognitive reflection unlocks numerous key benefits:
Understanding Your Strengths and Weaknesses: It offers a valuable opportunity to delve into your own abilities, pinpoint areas that require development, and foster self-awareness.
Challenging Underlying Values and Beliefs: Through this process, you can explore your personal values and belief systems, assess their impact on your teaching practices, and challenge any underlying assumptions that might be hindering your growth.
Identifying Possible Biases and Areas for Improvement: By scrutinizing your teaching practices, you can recognize any potential biases and areas that need improvement, ensuring a more inclusive and effective teaching approach.
Assessing the Impact of Your Environment on Learning: Consider how the context in which you learn and teach influences your understanding and approach, leading to more contextually relevant and impactful teaching.
Identifying Areas for Further Exploration: Metacognitive reflection can help you recognize specific topics or concepts you’d like to explore more deeply in your teaching practice, fostering continuous growth and development.
Categorizing Metacognitive Reflection
Metacognitive reflection can be categorized into several dimensions:
Meta-Memory (MM): This dimension involves an understanding of your memory and time management. It equips you to gauge how much time you might need to effectively complete a task, enhancing your overall efficiency.
Meta-Comprehension (MC): This category focuses on your ability to assess your understanding of the material and, more broadly, how you approach your own thinking. It cultivates metacognitive awareness.
Self-Regulation/Monitoring (SR): Self-regulation encompasses your capacity to plan, monitor, and evaluate your learning process, enabling more efficient self-directed learning.
Schema Training (ST): This dimension pertains to techniques that bolster your ability to organize and categorize information, particularly focusing on the relationships between different categories of information, fostering a structured and organized approach to teaching.
How can you use metacognitive reflection across the TATP certificates?
The TATP has created a Metacognitive Reflection Tool (LINK) that can be used while participating in the TATP’s programs. These reflective questions, although universal, are designed to seamlessly align with all our certificates. It’s essential to note that there’s no mandate to embrace this approach for certificate completion. However, we wholeheartedly encourage you to adopt this reflection method as a powerful tool to integrate your learning into your teaching practices effectively, enabling you to eloquently convey your educational experience in your documents. You can employ this approach after completing each certificate component, whether it’s a workshop, practicum, deliverable, or any other element. Moreover, this method serves as a valuable preparation for the mandatory Certificate Reflection, a pivotal step in completing your certificate journey.
TATP Metacognitive Tool
The TATP has created a metacognitive worksheet that you can use to reflect on your learning throughout your experience in the TATP’s workshops and programs. Use this metacognitive reflection worksheet to enhance your professional development learning. Download the word document.
Articulating Your TATP Professional Development Experience
Effectively articulating your experience in the Teaching Assistant’s Training Program’s professional development programming is essential for showcasing the value and impact of your participation. This section provides guidance on how to effectively communicate and articulate your TATP experience, highlighting the transferable skills you have acquired along the way. By emphasizing the broader aspects of your professional development journey, you can demonstrate the depth and breadth of your growth as an educator, as well as the transferability of your skills to various contexts.
Reflecting on the Journey
- Self-Reflection: Engage in thoughtful self-reflection to identify and articulate the core elements that define your TATP experience. Consider the knowledge, strategies, and insights gained, as well as the growth you have experienced as a teacher and a professional.
- Identifying Key Milestones: Reflect on significant milestones and moments during your professional development journey with the TATP program. These could include breakthroughs, challenges overcome, transformative learning experiences, and valuable interactions with peers and mentors.
Documenting Your TATP Experience
- Teaching Dossier: Showcase your TATP experience within your teaching dossier by incorporating a dedicated section that highlights your professional development journey. Include reflections on your teaching philosophy, evidence of effective teaching practices, and examples of innovative approaches you have implemented.
- CV/Resume: Tailor your CV or resume to highlight your TATP experience. Include a section that outlines your participation in the program, emphasizing the skills developed, workshops attended, and any relevant certificates earned. Incorporate the TATP experience into your professional narrative to demonstrate your commitment to ongoing professional growth.
- Interviews and Conversations: Prepare to discuss your TATP experience in interviews or professional conversations. Articulate the skills, knowledge, and insights gained during the program, and highlight how these have influenced your teaching approach, your understanding of inclusive pedagogies, and your ability to navigate diverse learning environments.
Highlighting Transferable Skills
- Identifying Transferable Skills: Recognize the transferable skills you have developed throughout your TATP journey. These skills may include communication, critical thinking, adaptability, collaboration, leadership, inclusive pedagogy, technology integration, and reflective practice.
- Connecting Transferable Skills: Identify how your transferable skills acquired through the TATP program can be effectively applied to other teaching contexts or professional opportunities. Illustrate how your skills have contributed to successful teaching experiences and positively impacted student learning outcomes.
- Emphasizing the Broader Impact: Articulate the broader impact of your TATP experience beyond individual workshops or certificates. Discuss how the program has influenced your teaching philosophy, expanded your pedagogical repertoire, and shaped your commitment to inclusive, student-centered education.
Showcasing Accomplishments
- Reflective Narratives: Share reflective narratives that demonstrate the growth and development you have experienced because of your participation in the TATP program. Discuss specific examples where you applied what you learned, navigated challenges, and achieved positive outcomes in your teaching practice.
- Student Feedback: Incorporate student feedback and testimonials to showcase the impact of your TATP experience on student learning. Share anecdotes and examples that highlight your ability to create inclusive and engaging learning environments.
- Demonstration of Innovative Practices: Illustrate how your TATP experience has enabled you to incorporate innovative teaching practices and educational technologies into your instructional design. Highlight projects, assignments, or activities that showcase your ability to create meaningful learning experiences.
- By effectively articulating your TATP experience using various approaches, such as reflecting on milestones, documenting in teaching dossiers and CVs, and highlighting transferable skills, you can showcase the richness and impact of your professional development journey. Demonstrate the value you bring as a skilled educator, with the ability to adapt and excel in diverse teaching environments and contribute positively to student learning outcomes.