The introduction of COVID-19 restrictions in March 2020 has resulted in a pivot from in-person, face-to-face teaching, to learning and teaching happening online. This change in format came with many opportunities, as well as challenges. Our training event seeks to develop and/or improve online teaching skills of postgraduate teaching assistants (PGTAs) in a collaborative, peer-to-peer learning environment. Our own practical experience stems from engaging undergraduates in weekly seminar discussions on social science concepts and data both in person, as well as online.
The workshop will be administered in two parts (roughly 90 minutes each). Both parts will include a short presentation by the organisers, workshops/activities in break-out rooms, practical use of Zoom tools, and plenty of opportunities for participants to share their own teaching experience in a large group discussion. Part one will look into some practical challenges of teaching over Zoom and the first workshop will focus on sharing the best practices and supporting one another regarding the shift to online teaching.
The second part will start with a presentation on Ethical challenges of teaching online (e.g. the use of camera) and the workshop will use vignette scenarios to discuss different ways of approaching a difficult or sensitive issue, mostly around pastoral care. Each scenario is inspired by a real-life situation that the training organisers have experienced as tutors. Finally, the participants will be given an opportunity to ask questions and engage in further discussion with the facilitators and other participants while thinking about the potential ways of implementing these new skills into their own teaching practice.
Delivered by Ms Tia Simanovic and Amy Tucker, University of Strathclyde