Teaching Teams

Course heads meet regularly with TF/TAs and other teaching staff to discuss approaches to teaching the course. Topics at teaching team meetings will vary, but the Bok Center recommends:

Before / Early in the Semester 

  • Responsibilities: Clarify expectations of TF/TAs (e.g. attend lectures, run sections, hold office hours, write exam questions, monitor Canvas discussions, grade homework).
  • Course Policies: Define common policies across sections and how to handle exceptions (e.g. lateness, attendance, devices, generative AI).
  • Syllabus: Review the syllabus, clarify any areas of ambiguity.
  • Classroom Norms: Shared values or practices (in line with program, College, and FAS policies). 
  • Build Trust: Discuss how each member of the teaching team plans to build a sense of community and trust in section. 
  • Discuss Teaching: Decide what pedagogical approaches are the best fit for this course. Discuss potential problems proactively (e.g. what should you do when a student talks too much or another student doesn’t talk at all?)
  • Sections: Clarify the relationship between section and lecture. What should each section achieve?
  • Grading: Discuss consistency and standards in grading (e.g. review grading rubrics and/or examples from past classes), including the use of Generative AI.
  • Generative AI: Discuss policy on how your course will handle the use of Generative AI.

Throughout the Semester 

  • Reflect: Discuss how things went the previous week.
  • Plan: Define the main learning goal(s) for the week.
  • Clarify: Discuss the relationship between lecture and section goals.
  • Assignments: Clarify how readings & assignments relate to the week’s learning goals.
  • Content: Discuss how particular aspect(s) of the course material / readings that the teaching team wants students to grapple with.
  • Anticipate: Discuss what members of the teaching team expect to find challenging in the coming week, and how to help students engage with the material.
  • Teaching Challenges: Review strategies for addressing disengaged students and other student-related challenges (students who are not participating, doing subpar work, etc.).
  • Grade: Discuss assignment rubric and/or grade a sample assignment together, particularly when grading on qualitative criteria. Review policy on the use of Generative AI.
  • Student feedback: Determine how and when to collect student feedback.

 

For a printable version of this list, see: What to Discuss at Teaching Team Meetings

Additional Resources: