Teaching Academy 2025: Call for Presenters!

Do you love teaching and want to share some fun and important tips and tricks with new and/or experienced TAs and instructors? We are seeking multiple presenters on a range of topics, such as inclusive classrooms, active learning, preparing for class, the first day, getting your students to discuss and write, and more! Please note that the audience of these workshops will be other grad students working as TAs and instructors at UMass, so the focus is exclusively on teaching at the college level. 

Presenters will: 

  • Create a 60-90 minute workshop on a topic of their choosing.
  • Receive support from OPD and CIRTL@UMass over the summer while planning their workshop by attending 2 one-on-one mentoring meetings.
  • Include at least one active learning activity in their workshop.
  • Design a 1-2 page handout or resource about their workshop topic.
  • Present in August on Zoom.
  • Repeat their presentation in person (when possible) in September.
  • Receive an honorarium of $250.

To Apply

Please apply here! The deadline to apply is April 28, 2025. You do not have to have a fully-formed idea for a workshop yet, but we want to see your ideas! 

Please note that to be a presenter, you must have experience as a TA or grad instructor at UMass. All UMass grad students and postdocs are invited to attend Teaching Academy workshop (full schedule will be released in late June.)

What Should the Workshops Be About? 

We are looking for presenters on the following topics! 

  1. Inclusive classrooms, attention to diversity, belonging, and classroom climate
  2. Active learning (both specific suggestions and demonstrations!!)
  3. First Day advice
  4. Balance for the instructor (time management, attention to workload)
  5. Advice specifically for TAs
  6. Advice specifically for international TAs

*The best teaching workshops focus on concrete strategies that participants can put into practice right away!*

*The best teaching workshops are useful to a majority of disciplines across campus!*

You can also check out the workshops offered by fellow grad students in 2024!