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Teaching Conferences

Fall 2013 Teaching Conference for First-Time GSIs

You’ve just been appointed for the first time as a GSI at UC Berkeley. . . .

Now what? Come to the Fall 2013 Teaching Conference for New GSIs to find out!

Discipline-Cluster Workshops led by experienced GSIs address pressing questions such as how to get started as a GSI, what to do on your first day of teaching and beyond, practical strategies to enhance learning, time management, and more.
 
Focus Sessions on specialized teaching topics such as giving oral presentations, using bSpace, facilitating effective discussions, and grading are also offered.

Here’s what GSIs have said about the conference:

"A neat overview of teaching standards and expectations in Berkeley discussion sections." 
– Astrophysics, Spring 2013

"This was so helpful; I feel so much more prepared to lead my discussion sections now."
– Legal Studies, Spring 2013

“The conference was helpful in building my confidence in the classroom and gathering resources for the future."
– Public Health, Fall 2012

“The style of interactive learning within these sections made for an excellent example of how to craft classes with dynamic teaching styles."
– Integrative Biology, Fall 2012

For more detailed information on the conference, please see below.

Teaching Conference Information

The Center sponsors a campuswide teaching conference each semester to prepare new GSIs for teaching. All GSIs teaching for the first time at Berkeley are required to attend.

The fall conference takes place on the Thursday and Friday before classes start. The first day (Thursday) is for new international GSIs and addresses teaching in the U.S. classroom. The second day (Friday) consists of intensive teaching preparation for all new GSIs, international and domestic.

The spring conference takes place on the Friday before classes begin.

The Fall 2013 Teaching Conference will take place on Thursday, August 22, and Friday, August 23, 2013. The schedules for both conference days appear below.

Register here for:
Thursday, August 22
(for all new international GSIs)

Friday, August 23
(for all new domestic and international GSIs)

Fall 2013 Teaching Conference Schedule

Thursday, August 22, 2013
For New International GSIs

8:30–9:00 Registration: Dwinelle Hall Lobby

9:00–10:30 Plenary Session: 145 Dwinelle Hall
Opening Remarks – Linda von Hoene, Director, GSI Teaching & Resource Center
Welcome –Andrew Szeri, Dean, Graduate Division
Faculty Keynote Presentation – TBA
International GSI Panel

10:30–10:45 Break

10:45–11:45 Focus Sessions: Dwinelle Hall
GSIs choose one of the following workshops:
  Being an Undergraduate at UC Berkeley
  Pronunciation for Teaching
  The Language of the Classroom
  Teaching in an Unfamiliar Institutional and Cultural Context

11:45–12:30 Lunch

12:30–1:30 Focus Sessions: Dwinelle Hall
GSIs choose one of the following workshops:
  Being an Undergraduate at UC Berkeley
  Pronunciation for Teaching
  The Language of the Classroom
  Teaching in an Unfamiliar Institutional and Cultural Context

1:30–1:40 Break

1:40–3:00 Teaching Practice: Dwinelle Hall

Register here for:
IGSI Teaching Conference
Thursday, August 22
(for all new international GSIs)

Friday, August 23, 2013
For All New Domestic and International GSIs

8:30–9:00 Registration: Wheeler Hall

9:00–9:45 Plenary Session: Wheeler Auditorium
Opening Remarks – Linda von Hoene, Director, GSI Teaching & Resource Center
Welcome – Andrew Szeri, Dean of the Graduate Division; Nicholas Dirks, Chancellor
Faculty Keynote Presentation – TBA
(Registration after 9:50 a.m. will be in Dwinelle Hall Lobby)

9:45–10:00 Break

10:00–12:00 Discipline-Cluster Workshops (Part 1): Location TBA
Workshops address getting started as a GSI, conducting the first day of class, strategies to enhance learning, and time management

12:00–12:45 Lunch

12:45–2:00 Discipline-Cluster Workshops (Part 2): Location TBA
Continuation of morning workshops

2:00–2:10 Break

2:10–3:30 Focus Sessions: Location TBA
Sessions include GSI Reflections on Teaching, Facilitating Discussion Sections, Giving Oral Presentations, Strategies for Effective and Efficient Grading, and more

Register here for:
GSI Teaching Conference
Friday, August 23
(for all new domestic and international GSIs)