Biology Graduate Student Teaching Awards

The Departments of Zoology and Botany recognise the outstanding teaching of Biology Graduate Student Teaching Assistantswith two annual awards for Biology. Each prize will include both a certificate and $500.

1. Eligibility

The award is open to any Graduate Teaching Assistant of any department who teaches or has taught some or all of a BIOL course during the current, and/or the preceding academic year (eg. 2014/2015 or 2015/2016) and are currently graduate students in the department.

2. Nomination Process

Nominations are encouraged from teaching supervisors (professors, instructors, senior laboratory instructors, laboratory sessional lecturers) of the Graduate Teaching Assistant, from colleagues working closely with the nominee, and from the students who attended the nominee’s class or laboratory. Self-nominations will not be accepted. The nominator should notify the nominee and the faculty member who has supervised their teaching, write a brief letter/paragraph of nomination and if possible assist them in putting together the nomination package.

Teaching dossiers must reflect the criteria (Appendix I) and include supporting documentation (Appendix II). Winners of the Science Graduate Teaching Assistant Teaching Awards are not eligible, however those that were nominated, but did not win, are eligible for this award.

Nomination deadlines:

  1. Nomination packages submitted to the chair of the committeeinMay of each year.
  2. Award winners decided by June.

3. Adjudication process

A committee will be struck by the chair of the previous committee before the May submission of nominations from departments. It is suggested that each committee consists of 1-2 Graduate Teaching Assistants who are recognized as effective teachers, 2-3 faculty or laboratory supervisors with Teaching Assistants, and recent teaching award winners in the faculty. A committee chair will be chosen by, and from within the committee and will serve a three year term. The enclosed criteria should be used by committees to determine nominees’ effectiveness.

4. Supportive Documentation required or suggested for Nominators

Appendix II of this letter includes what constitutes supporting documentation for nominators. This information should be organized into a teaching dossier, and should address the criteria set out in Appendix I.

APPENDIX I

EFFECTIVE TEACHING CRITERIAfor Biology Graduate Student Teaching Award

Successful candidates will have demonstrated skills, abilities and contributions that result in a high level of respect from undergraduate students and academic or course supervisors, in several of the following areas:

  1. demonstrates a broad knowledge of the field, and the ability to help students actively learn new knowledge, skills and perspectives, evidenced by student/supervisor feedback
  • explains facts or information clearly and logically
  • is enthusiastic about biology and conveys this to students
  • organizes effective presentations, fieldwork or discussion groups that maximize student learning
  • constructively evaluates student presentations
  • actively helps students to learn transferable skills such as oral and verbal communication, problem solving, critical thinking, numeracy, teamwork, leadership
  1. shows evidence of working in a collegial manner with students, faculty supervisors and graduate teaching assistant colleagues:
  • works with other graduate students or faculty to improve the learning environment for students
  • demonstrates rapport with and support of undergraduate students through active listening strategies and actions
  • encourages student collaboration through group projects and presentation

3. shows evidence of incorporating new teaching skills learned through workshops, seminars and/or self-directed learning

  1. shows evidence of reflection and action on personal and professional development needs within the scope of the Teaching Assistant
  1. acts as a role model, demonstrating high standards, good listening skills and ethics:
  • demonstrates reliability and availability within the scope of the TA job description
  • encourages and supports diversity and equity within and beyond the classroom
  • returns assignments quickly, with useful constructive feedback (oral and/or written)
  • is involved in community service (for example, involvement in science fairs, open houses, undergraduate/graduate events)
  • initiates actions which help to make the classroom a safe and supportive learning environment

APPENDIX II

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION - Teaching Dossier

REQUIRED

  • summary of recent teaching responsibilities, including number of students, type of teaching undertaken, hours per week in the classroom, average time spent constructively in consultation with students and with supervisors as it relates to Teaching Assistantship duties. If applicable, include activities from the preceding year;
  • statement of the candidate’s values and assumptions about teaching and learning in higher education (MUST BE less than one page of text in length);
  • summary of formal feedback from students, colleagues and/or supervisors (in the form of student evaluations, letters, or related material) which addresses the stated criteria for this award (NO MORE than two letters should be included); and

SUGGESTED

  • further relevant examples of interest and involvement in teaching and student learning; for example, participation in teaching enhancement seminars and workshops, independent reading in the field of teaching in higher education, involvement in departmental or other University committees which examine teaching and learning issues
  • description of a recent instructional problem or situation faced by the Teaching Assistant which outlines steps taken toward resolution of the issue;
  • example of written or oral feedback given by the Teaching Assistant to students in a laboratory, tutorial, fieldwork or clinical situation or course. This could take the form of comments on lab reports, or on tutorial assignments, essays or other submissions which the Teaching Assistant has directly overseen;

Please note: the ENTIRE package must be no more than 7-10 pagesmaximum.
It must be in an electronic format (.pdf files are preferred).
Email to the Associate Head of Biology, Shona Ellis, with the title “BGTA nomination for [full name of nominee]”.

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