Instructional Skills for International Teaching Assistants (ITA)

TitleInstructional Skills for International Teaching Assistants (ITA)
Faculty/College/UnitOther...
OtherUBC Continuing Studies
StatusCompleted
Duration1 Year
Initiation04/01/2010
Completion03/31/2011
Project Summary

UBC’s renewed strategic plan, Place and Promise, commits the university to be an exceptional learning environment where intercultural understanding and student learning are central. The Instructional Skills for International Teaching Assistants (ITA) program contributes to this vision by supporting international graduate students, visiting scholars and post-doctoral fellows develop the teaching skills they need to be successful instructors at UBC. The content in the program focuses on both instructional skill development and intercultural communication strategies to support the cultural, academic and linguistic adjustments of the participants. The program provides participants the skills and awareness to promote intercultural understanding, “one of the primary duties of a university in a democratic society like Canada” (Professor Toope, Promoting Intercultural Understanding: A Discussion Paper, August 2009, p. 3).

During the 30 hour course, ITA students are required to develop and teach mini-lessons on which they receive feedback from their peers and instructors to support them in continuing to improve their instructional skills.

Funding Details
Year 1: Project YearYear 1
Year 1: Funding Year2010/2011
Year 1: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 1: Principal InvestigatorKaren Rolston
Year 1: Funded Amount66,000
Year 1: Team Members

Karen Rolston, Centre for Intercultural Communication, UBC Continuing Studies
Judith Plessis, Centre for Intercultural Communication, UBC Continuing Studies