The introduction of COVID-19 restrictions in March has resulted in a pivot from in person, face-to-face teaching, to learning and teaching happening online. This change in format has come with many opportunities, as well as certain challenges. To develop the online teaching skills of postgraduate teaching assistants (PGTAs), we are offering a collaborative, peer-to-peer training event, rooted in our practical experience of engaging undergraduates in the discussion of social science theories, concepts, and data.
This half-day training event is open to any social science postgraduate student, regardless of their prior experience, who would like to develop their teaching skills, hear the experiences of other PGTAs, and share their own practice of online teaching, if any. The training will consist of two presentations (one on practical challenges around online teaching, and another on ethical challenges and an increase in pastoral duties required by the tutors), followed by numerous opportunities to practically engage with different teaching techniques and learning materials.
As online learning is likely to continue to play an important part in the delivery of higher education post-pandemic, having such an experience will become desirable for future employability within the University sector. This training will provide the participants with information, peer-support, and the ability to experience learning and teaching in an online format, which they will subsequently be able to implement in their own practice. We are looking forward to meeting you!
Training facilitated by University of Strathclyde students Tia Simanovic and Amy Tucker.