Did you know that all TAs & TMs have up to 6 hours of PAID professional development opportunities each semester you have a contract?
Anything that is related to teaching counts, however many members choose to use their hours taking the excellent offerings of the Teaching Learning Centre (TLC) at SFU.
Fall professional development is available in multiple formats and modes, here is a preliminary list:
- Intense and practical: Instructional Skills Workshops (ISWs) are an excellent way to enhance your teaching practice in a fast-paced, concentrated three-day format. The August 20–22 session still has space. Reserve your spot.
- Technology in Surrey: The fall 2014 Teaching with Technology series at the Surrey campus will include five events on teaching topics ranging from how to perform on camera to using visual resources. The kick-off takes place on September 24. Sign up for the kick-off.
- Educational Goals symposium: If your department is preparing for an external review, consider attending "Educational Goals Planning and Assessment: Exploring Challenges and Opportunities" on August 20. This one-day symposium will include presentations by departments that have participated in the educational goals process and will pay special attention to the role of curriculum mapping. Contact Daniel Ahadi in the TLC for more details.
- Be a great TA: TA/TM Day is a teaching orientation program that offers multiple sessions by and for teaching assistants. It's informative and fun and offers new and veteran TAs the chance to meet and mix. The fall 2014 TA/TM Day takes place on Friday, September 5, at Burnaby campus. See the webpage and watch the video.
- Do some online PD: Wiley Learning Institute's online training and professional development opportunities are free for faculty, administrators and grad students through the TLC. Take a look.
All you have to do to claim this PAID time that is insured by Simon Fraser University is put 6 hours on the "other" line of your Time Use Guideline (TUG). It's that easy! Some professors may not have heard of this SFU benefit guarantee, but feel free to send them to us, or show them in the collective agreement (found on page 54, section M.1.).
If you do not hold a contract this semester, you are still free to take these classes, and the good news is most are free!
