Graduate Teaching Resources
Establishing good teaching practices at the graduate level is essential for individuals who plan to teach at a college or university. The Office of Teaching and Learning offers innovative programs to assist graduate students in building their teaching skills. The following resources are available to all NDSU graduate teaching assistants.
Graduate Teaching Resources Postcard
PDF | Audio (MP3)
Distribute this card at your next graduate teaching assistant meeting.
Graduate Resources Postcard Packet
View in PDF | Audio (MP3)
This packet includes all of the events and professional development activities that graduate students and graduate teaching assistants may be interested in. We encourage you to share this packet with your graduate students at the beginning of each semester.
Graduate Teaching and Learning Conference
Each fall semester the Office of Teaching and Learning, in partnership with the NDSU Graduate School, offers a Graduate Teaching and Learning conference. This conference is open to all Graduate Teaching Assistants who want to learn best practices of teaching and learning. The theme of this conference is “active-learning.”
Develop confidence and skills to lead your class and lab sessions with the highest level of student involvement in learning.
All conference attendees will receive a digital certificate of attendance.
Conference Schedule
Monday, August 18, 2025
Oċet̄i Ṡak̄owiɳ Ballroom A // Memorial Union
View Printable Schedule >> Schedule will be updated for 2025 as soon as it is ready.
9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. - Registration and Light Breakfast
9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m - Introductions and Conference Overview with Dr. Stacy Duffield
9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. - Dr. Jenni Momsen Presentation
10:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. - Break
11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. - Dena Wyum Presentation
11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Lunch and Service Presentations
1:00 p.m. - 2:00p.m. - Teaching Q & A with teaching assistant supervisors Dr. Matthew Smith and Dr. Angela Hodgson, and current teaching assistants Jacob Pithan, Emily Hackerson, and Joshua Rinehart
2:00 p.m. - 2:15p.m. - Teaching Assistant Learning Community
2:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Wrap up with Dr. Stacy Duffield
Conference Registration
Registration deadline is August 5, 2024. A button will appear below when registration is open for the 2024 conference.
I acknowledge that by submitting this registration I will be in attendance for this event.
Teaching Assistant Learning Community
The Office of Teaching and Learning, in partnership with the NDSU Graduate School, offers a Teaching Assistant Learning Community (TALC).
The TALC is a peer-mentoring learning community that provides teaching assistants with teaching support, constructive feedback, and peer-led discussions on best teaching practices.
TALC Blackboard Site
To be a part of the Blackboard TALC site you will need to go to the organization tab in Blackboard and search the "Graduate teaching assistants" tab and enroll. You can use as much or as little of the resources available as you would like.
Whether or not you plan to have a career in the classroom, participating in these groups offers you the opportunity to network with other teaching assistants and learn valuable teaching skills. The TALC is free and open to all NDSU Teaching Assistants of any discipline and level of experience. If you have any questions, please email ndsu.otl@ndsu.edu.
Social Hour & Panel Discussion
Effective Teaching Strategies, Classroom Management, and Time Management
Tuesday, November 28, 2023 | 4-5 P.M.
Badlands Room, Memorial Union
Join us for an enriching afternoon of connection and knowledge-sharing at our Graduate Teaching Assistants' Social Hour and Panel Discussion!
The event will kick off with delightful treats and casual socializing, followed by an engaging panel discussion featuring an experienced teaching assistant and a couple of faculty members across campus, sharing their insights and experiences in the world of academia. Learn about effective teaching strategies for graduate teaching assistants. Hear about classroom management strategies that work. Get tips on time management strategies to help you succeed. The event will conclude with an interactive Q&A session. Don't miss this chance to build connections, gain valuable knowledge, and enjoy a relaxing social hour in the company of fellow GTAs. We look forward to seeing you there!
Panelists:
- Dr. Sulaymon Eshkabilov – Assistant Professor of Agriculture and Biosystem Engineering
- Dr. Jessica Vold – Assistant Professor of Engineering Entrepreneurship & Innovation
- Lane Morrison – Graduate Teaching Assistant – Department of Mathematics
Facebook Group
Graduate Teaching Resources
The Office of Teaching and Learning moderates a Facebook group specifically for graduate teaching assistants, lab assistants, and graduate students who may be interested in future teaching assistant opportunities. This closed group is a supportive and encouraging environment for you to find assistance with your role as a teaching or lab assistant.
We encourage you to post your teaching questions so all teaching assistants can help crowd source an answer. If you have found useful resources and tips please share them with the group. Through these questions and discussions you can continually improve and refine your teaching skills.
Our group moderators closely monitor this group to ensure it remains a supportive environment. If you are uncomfortable posting a sensitive question, message the moderators and they can post it in the group for you or find appropriate support for you. If you have any questions regarding this group email ndsu.otl@ndsu.edu.
More Resources
Active Learning Overview
The video above offers an overview of active learning teaching featuring Paul Kelter, former professor and former OTL director and Brandy Randall, former associate dean of the NDSU Graduate School.
So You Are Going to TA
If you plan to be a teaching assistant this year (or any year in the future), Rebecca Reichenbach, Ph.D. candidate offers some solid advice for you in the video above.
2021 Graduate Teaching and Learning Conference Videos
If you were unable to make it to the 2021 Graduate Teaching and Learning Conference or would like a reminder of what was said, we have uploaded the videos above. You can also access them on our YouTube playlist >>
University of Washington - Just for TAs
The University of Washington's Center for Teaching and Learning has a well written resource for TAs who are preparing to teach their class. This site covers many of the topics a TA might encounter while teaching and includes advice from experienced TAs. This resource is well worth your time.
We Learn Together Blog
The Office of Teaching and Learning's We Learn Together Blog researches and writes posts about different teaching techniques that may enhance your teaching.
Chronicle of Higher Education
NDSU offers free access to the Chronicle of Higher Education. Use the link above and your NDSU Central Authentication Service (CAS) credentials to login.
New York Times
NDSU offers free access to the New York Times. Follow the link above to instructions on how to login.
The Forum of Fargo Moorhead
NDSU offers free access to The Forum of Fargo Moorhead. Use the link above and your NDSU Central Authentication Service (CAS) credentials to login.
Qualtrics
NDSU's Group Decision Center and Information Technology Services offer a free Qualtrics account to all graduate students on campus. Follow the link above to instructions on how to login.
Avenues of Scientific Discovery
This event features an opportunity for graduate students to share knowledge of their program of study with 7th - 12th grade students during a workshop planned by the graduate student(s).
College Teaching Certificate
A three-semester (9-credit) graduate certificate in pedagogy for NDSU graduate students from across campus who plan to teach in a college or university.