Job Training
Information for Teaching Assistants
Job training requirements and options for students and post-doctoral fellows working as Teaching Assistants at the University of Toronto.
Information for Course Instructors
Job training requirements and options for graduate students or post-doctoral fellows working as a Course Instructor at the University of Toronto.
Information for Departments
Information regarding the job training responsibility of departments hiring TAs and CIs and the supports offered by the TATP
Job Training Information for TAs
If you are a student or post-doctoral fellow working as a teaching assistant for the first time and you are a member of CUPE 3902 Unit 1, you are eligible to receive 4 hours of paid job training from your hiring department. Typically these hours will be included in your distribution of hours outlined on the Description of Duties and Allocation of Hours (DDAH) form. For subsequent appointments of 30 hours or more, you may request additional training of up to 4 hours for each appointment. You must submit additional training requests to your hiring department and it is at the discretion of your hiring department to approve your requests. If your department does not have a specialized department-specific session, you can, at your department’s approval, attend 4-hours of training offered by our office. In addition to the options below, with departmental approval you may attend any TATP sessions for job training, but this must be discussed with your course instructor prior to attending a session.
Departments may develop and deliver the entire 4 hours of training themselves; alternatively, some or all first appointment training may be provided by the TATP. Please contact your hiring department for guidance on how you will receive your 4 hours of paid training.
TATP Job Training Options
If your department has asked you to complete one or more online training modules, you can self-enrol using the following links:
- Policies & Procedures for Teaching Assistants at the University of Toronto
- Discussion Based Tutorials
- Review and Q&A Tutorials
- Laboratories and Practicals
- Skill Development: Critical Reading and Reflection
- Skill Development: Supporting Student Writing
- Skill Development: Problem Sets
- Grading
- Introduction to Quercus
- Online Course Design & Management
- Online Technology for Student Engagement
TAs must register prior to attending one of the 2-hour synchronous online or in-person training sessions hosted by the TATP. In-person training sessions will take place in the Blackburn Room, on the 4th floor of Robarts Library (130 St. George Street). Online sessions will be hosted on Zoom. CUPE orientation is included in these 2-hour sessions.
Topics covered in these sessions include:
- Key instructional techniques
- Time management
- Communicating with students
- Effective student support
- Working with your Course Supervisor
As per the CUPE 3902 Unit 1 Collective Agreement, the University shall provide 4 hours of work-related paid training per academic year in which they hold at least one teaching appointment. The 4 additional hours of paid training are completely optional.
Training in the following subject areas will be considered work-related training for all appointments:
- Pedagogy and inclusive pedagogy
- Anti-oppression and anti-racism
- Intercultural competency
- Accommodations and crisis referrals
In addition, the following training will be considered work-related for teaching appointments that require remote delivery:
- Online technology
- Online course design and management
TAs may, with departmental approval, participate in any relevant TATP professional development sessions for this additional paid training. Explore our upcoming workshops and discuss with your department any sessions you would like to attend.
As of the 2021-22 academic year, the TATP has been providing records of attendance for all students who participate in our programming. If you complete an asynchronous online module, or attend a synchronous session, an electronic record of attendance will be made available to you either via Quercus (online modules) or by email within 3 business days (synchronous sessions). These records of attendance can be remitted to your department as proof of completion. You may, with departmental approval attend any TATP sessions for job training, but this must be discussed with your course instructor prior to attending a session.
Job Training Information for Course Instructors
If you are a graduate student or post-doctoral fellow working as a Course Instructor at the University of Toronto for the first time and you are a member of CUPE 3902 Unit 1, you are eligible to receive 6 hours of paid job training. It is the responsibility of the hiring department to provide and pay you for such training. The 6 hours will be paid on top of your course stipend at the SGS II hourly rate. For subsequent appointments, you may request additional training of up to 4 hours for each appointment. For subsequent appointments of 30 hours or more, you may request additional training of up to 4 hours for each appointment.
Departments may develop and deliver the entire 6 hours of training themselves; alternatively, some or all first appointment training may be provided by the TATP. Please contact your hiring department for guidance on how you will receive your 6 hours of paid training.
TATP Job Training Options
The TATP runs a Course Instructor Training Camp in August, December and April each year. This training is grouped into two parts: seven asynchronous learning modules (3.5 hours), and two synchronous workshop sessions (2.5 hours total).
The asynchronous modules focus on many of the principle components of course design, including learning outcomes, assessments, syllabus design, and lecture planning, and highlight how these components are informed by UDL (Universal Design for Learning) and Equity-Oriented Pedagogy. We also discuss policies and course administration details that are specific to the University of Toronto. The content covered in these modules is applicable to face-to-face, hybrid, and online learning contexts.
In the first synchronous session (Syllabus Peer Review + Q & A), participants will receive feedback on their course syllabus and provide feedback to one of their peers. This activity will help participants identify areas of strength and potential areas for improvement in their syllabus. For this reason, we require participants to bring a draft of a syllabus – it does not have to be a finished or polished draft.
The first synchronous session will also include time for a question and answer period, where participants are welcome to ask questions about concepts introduced in the asynchronous modules, or other aspects of course design. The first synchronous session will be 1.5 hours long.
In the second synchronous session (Effective Practices for Engaging Lectures), we focus our discussion on how CIs can deliver engaging and equitable lectures. We explore three key areas, including inclusive lecturing, active learning, and reflective practice. We will discuss strategies that are relevant in both face-to-face and online learning contexts, and we will consider these strategies with accessibility and inclusivity in mind.
The next CI Training Camp will be running on April 24th. Registration is now open. All registrants will receive an email when enrollment for the asynchronous modules opens
Additional Paid Training for CIs
As per the CUPE 3902 Unit 1 Collective Agreement, in addition to the first appointment training for TAs and CIs, the University shall provide 4 hours of work-related paid training per academic year in which they hold at least one teaching appointment.
Departments should communicate to their CIs about this training entitlement. CIs are not required to participate in this training. The 4 additional hours of paid training are completely optional. Training in the following subject areas will be considered work-related training for all appointments:
- Pedagogy and inclusive pedagogy
- Anti-oppression and anti-racism
- Intercultural competency
- Accommodations and crisis referrals
In addition, the following training will be considered work-related for teaching appointments that require remote delivery:
- Online technology
- Online course design and management
CIs may, with departmental approval, participate in any relevant TATP professional development sessions for this additional paid training. Additional paid training may be offered by other offices across the institution.
Job Training Information for Departments
At the University of Toronto, students working as teaching assistants, teaching laboratory assistants, graders, and course instructors are represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Local 3902, Unit 1. Depending on the nature of the teaching appointment (teaching assistantship or course instructorship), graduate students receive first-contract training to support their pedagogical development. It is the responsibility of the hiring department to provide job training. However, the Teaching Assistants’ Training Program (TATP) offers several services to support departments in meeting this mandate.
Teaching Assistant Training Requirements
As per the Collective Agreement between CUPE 3902 Unit 1 and the University of Toronto, first-time Teaching Assistants shall receive 4 hours of paid job training. TAs can request additional training, up to 4 hours, for each subsequent appointment. As of September 1, 2014, all TAs who are asked to lead tutorials are required to receive training that focuses on a particular tutorial category.
Course Instructor Training Requirements
As per the Collective Agreement between CUPE 3902 Unit 1 and the University of Toronto, first-time Course Instructors are entitled to 6 hours of paid job training. CIs shall be paid for their participation in such training at the SGS II rate by the hiring department in addition to their regular contract stipend.
Job Training for Teaching Assistants - Information for Departments
At the University of Toronto, the term “tutorial” is used to identify interactive and participatory sessions primarily led by TAs. During tutorials, TAs are responsible for gauging student understanding and providing formative feedback, in line with assessment structures and guidelines set by the Course Instructor.
Instructors who have been assigned TAs should contact the appropriate designate in their division/department to determine the process for categorizing tutorials and identifying TA training. In most cases, this contact will either be an Associate Chair Undergraduate or Graduate, or a faculty or staff member charged with overseeing TA contracts in the division/department.
These categories include:
- Discussion-Based Tutorials
- Review Q&A Tutorials
- Laboratories/Practices
- Skill Development Tutorials:
- Critical Reading and Reflection
- Supporting Student Writing
- Problem Sets
In cases of tutorials with 100+ students, TAs are also entitled to training on how to scale their learning activities for larger groups (see the Thresholds for Additional TA Training table in Appendix D of the Report of the Joint Working Group on Undergraduate Tutorials)
Training Options for TAs
Training by Departments: Departments can develop and deliver the entire 4 hours of mandatory TA training.
Training Partnership: Departments can develop a portion of the 4 hours of mandatory training, then refer TAs to the TATP for the remaining hours of required training.
Training by TATP: Departments can refer TAs to the TATP for all 4 hours of their mandatory TA training.
TATP Training Options
TAs can self-enrol for the following online asynchronous training modules. Each module should take approximately one hour to complete. Self enrolment links below:
- Policies & Procedures for Teaching Assistants at the University of Toronto
- Discussion Based Tutorials
- Review and Q&A Tutorials
- Laboratories and Practicals
- Skill Development: Critical Reading and Reflection
- Skill Development: Supporting Student Writing
- Skill Development: Problem Sets
- Grading
- Introduction to Quercus
- Online Course Design & Management
- Online Technology for Student Engagement
A Note about CUPE 3902 Unit 1: As stipulated in the collective agreement between the TA union and the University, a CUPE 3902 union steward must be allotted 30 minutes to speak at the end of any training session for first-contract TAs facilitated by the TATP.
Topics covered in these sessions include:
- Key instructional techniques
- Time management
- Communicating with students
- Effective student support
- Working with your Course Supervisor
TAs must register prior to attending one of the 2-hour synchronous online or in-person training sessions hosted by the TATP. In-person training sessions will take place in the Blackburn Room, on the 4th floor of Robarts Library (130 St. George Street). Online sessions will be hosted on Zoom.
A CUPE 3902 representative will be present in all TATP 2-hour synchronous training sessions (this includes departmental-specific training sessions).
For departments with more than 15 TAs who require first-appointment training, a 2-hour synchronous online or in-person training session can be booked with the TATP. Please book your training session no less than 3 weeks in advance and provide 3 possible dates for your session. Our preference is to offer training online. If there is a strong preference to hold an in-person, on-site training session, you must adhere to all University of Toronto health and safety policies, and book a room with sufficient room for all of the TAs who require training.
All training requests are booked on a first-come, first-served basis and are confirmed only once the availability of TATP staff has been determined. Once a TATP staff member has been assigned to deliver TA training in your department, this graduate educational developer will contact you to finalize the details of the session. If you are booking a September training workshop, your session will be confirmed after August 1.Please Note: The TATP is staffed by experienced graduate student TAs and Course Instructors. They work with a suite of training materials that have been developed by TAs for TAs. TATP peer trainers are not subject matter experts and will not be able to train your TAs to teach specific disciplinary content.To book a departmental training session, please fill out the Departmental Training Session Request Form.
As per the CUPE 3902 Unit 1 Collective Agreement, in addition to the first appointment training for TAs and CIs, the University shall provide 4 hours of work-related paid training per academic year in which they hold at least one teaching appointment.
Departments should communicate to their TAs and CIs about this training entitlement. TAs and CIs are not required to participate in this training. The 4 additional hours of paid training are completely optional.
Training in the following subject areas will be considered work-related training for all appointments:
- Pedagogy and inclusive pedagogy
- Anti-oppression and anti-racism
- Intercultural competency
- Accommodations and crisis referrals
In addition, the following training will be considered work-related for teaching appointments that require remote delivery:
- Online technology
- Online course design and management
As of the 2021-22 academic year, the TATP has been providing records of attendance for all students who participate in our programming. If a TA completes an asynchronous online module, or attends an online or in-person session, an electronic record of attendance is made available either via Quercus (online modules) or by email within 3 business days (synchronous sessions). These records of attendance can be remitted as proof of completion.
Job Training for Course Instructors - Information for Departments
Course Instructors are eligible to attend training as soon as they have a contract to teach from their hiring department (which, in some cases, may be prior to the beginning of the term in which they are teaching). Hiring departments have several options for making paid training available to first-time CIs. These options include:
- Training by Departments: Development of all training materials and delivery of the training is handles by the hiring department. TATP and CTSI staff are available to consult on the content and method of delivery of such training.
- Training Partnership: Departments can provide some components of the 6 hours of training, then refer CIs to the TATP to attend our regular workshop series to complete the remaining hours of paid training.
- Training by TATP: First time CIs may attend the TATP’s Course Instructor Training camp to receive all 6 hours of paid training. The CI training camp takes place in August, December and April. Additionally, with departmental approval, CIs may attend the TATP’s regular workshop series for paid training.
This training is grouped into two parts: five asynchronous learning modules (3 hours), and two 1.5-hour synchronous workshop sessions.
The asynchronous modules focus on many of the principle components of course design, including learning outcomes, assessment, and syllabus design, and highlight how these components are informed by UDL (Universal Design for Learning) and Equity-Oriented Pedagogy. We also discuss policies and course administration details that are specific to the University of Toronto. The content covered in these modules is applicable to face-to-face and online learning contexts.
The first synchronous session (Exploring Course Design), takes up the activities that were completed during the asynchronous modules, and answer questions related to the design of your course. Participants will also complete a syllabus activity that will help them identify areas of strength and potential areas of weakness in their syllabus. For this reason, we require participants to bring a draft of a syllabus – it does not have to be a finished or polished draft.
In the second synchronous session (Effective Practices for Engaging Lectures), we focus our discussion on how CIs can deliver engaging and equitable lectures. We explore three key areas, including planning, delivery, and reflection. We will discuss strategies that are relevant in both face-to-face and online learning contexts, and we will consider these strategies with accessibility and inclusivity in mind.
The December CI Training Camp will be running on December 11th, 2024. Registration now open.
As per the Collective Agreement, in addition to the first appointment training for TAs and CIs, the University shall provide 4 hours of work-related paid training per academic year in which they hold at least one teaching appointment.
Departments should communicate to their CIs about this training entitlement. CIs are not required to participate in this training. The 4 additional hours of paid training are completely optional.
Training in the following subject areas will be considered work-related training for all appointments:
- Pedagogy and inclusive pedagogy
- Anti-oppression and anti-racism
Intercultural competency - Accommodations and crisis referrals
In addition, the following training will be considered work-related for teaching appointments that require remote delivery:
- Online technology
- Online course design and management
CIs may, with departmental approval, participate in any relevant TATP professional development sessions for this additional paid training.
As of the 2021-22 academic year, the TATP has been providing records of attendance for all students who participate in our programming. If a CI completes an asynchronous online module, or attends an online or in-person session, an electronic record of attendance is made available either via Quercus (online modules) or by email within 3 business days (synchronous sessions). These records of attendance can be remitted as proof of completion.