2009 Teaching Assistants' Training Program
Teaching Excellence Award
Please follow one of these links to nominate your TA
Student Nomination Form
Faculty Nomination Form
Nominations close Friday, March 6, 2009
The Teaching Assistants' Training Program's (TATP) Teaching Excellence Award was created in 2003 to recognize the outstanding contributions of teaching assistants at the University of Toronto . The award seeks to value the work of TAs who regularly inspire and challenge undergraduate students. Recipients of this award will receive a monetary award, a certificate and will be invited to attend a luncheon in their honour. Award winners will also be asked to participate in a panel discussion at TA Day 2009 (date to be determined).
Selection Criteria:
With the understanding that TAs in different disciplines will be required to perform a variety of duties and fulfill a wide range of responsibilities, candidates must demonstrate sustained and ongoing excellence in their teaching, and must exhibit some or all of the following:
- Excellent organizational skills (in relation to their ability to organize, structure and prepare tutorials, labs or classes)
- Comprehensive knowledge of their subject area
- Effective communication skills (including clarity of examples and explanations, effective communication of expectations, relation of current issues/research to student experiences and real-world applications)
- Enthusiasm for their subject area
- Ability to provide effective feedback to students
- Ability to encourage student participation
Eligibility Requirements:
To be eligible for this award a candidate must:
- Receive 2 or more student nominations ( NB: Faculty may submit a nomination but evidence of student support will be required as well.)
- Have had at least 100 hours of TA experience
- Have held a TA appointment during the current academic year (May 1, 2008 – April 30, 2009)
Nomination Process:
To initiate the nomination process, nominators must first complete an on-line form (available through this website on February 2, 2009) or submit a nomination letter to the TATP . The nomination letter must speak to the selection criteria.
Please note: Consideration will be given to all candidates with 2 or more student nominations and who meet the selection criteria listed above. Faculty members are encouraged to submit nominations; however, evidence of student support will be required. The TATP will contact TA nominees for additional supporting documentation* if these requirements are met.
Nomination Deadlines:
Nominations will be accepted between Monday, February 2, 2009 and Friday , March 6, 2009 .
Candidates meeting eligibility and selection criteria must submit supporting documentation* by Thursday, April 9, 2009 (the last day of winter term classes).
Winners will be announced on Friday, April 24, 2009 .
Supporting documentation
TAs under consideration for this award will be asked to provide ALL of the following documentation:
- one or more letter of support from a faculty member familiar with the TA's work
- a teaching philosophy statement and sample teaching materials (please see the TATP's instructions for preparing a teaching dossier) — the statement and the materials provided must have been prepared by the TA
- course evaluations (if available)
Additional letters or emails from students or faculty members may also be included. Candidates must submit all materials to the TATP office, accompanied by a cover letter, by Thursday, April 9 at 5:00 pm.
TATP Teaching Excellence Award poster
2008 TATP Teaching Excellence Award winners
2007 TATP Teaching Excellence Award winners
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