Plan a Pre-Semester Course Orientation

Use this meeting as an opportunity to get acquainted with GSIs and to provide a general overview of your course. Faculty members are almost unanimous in endorsing the importance of pre-semester planning. GSIs benefit from knowing faculty members' course objectives and goals for students and the role GSIs can play in helping to achieve those goals. A pre-semester orientation also provides GSIs with a chance to examine the syllabus and plan ahead for labor-intensive teaching or grading weeks.

• Plan a pre-semester course orientation.
• Know your GSIs.
• Meet weekly with GSIs to talk about teaching.
• Build into the weekly meetings specific pedagogical goals.
• Encourage your students to keep a teaching journal.
• Observe your GSIs in the classroom.
• Encourage GSIs to be videotaped in the classroom.
• Set up a peer observation program.
• Encourage your GSIs to get ongoing feedback on teaching and learning from their students.
• Recommend participation in teaching-related events.
• Help GSIs construct a teaching portfolio.
• Encourage your GSIs to read pedagogical literature.
• View your course as one step in helping GSIs to prepare for their own future roles as professors.
• Take part in the programs for faculty of the GSI Teaching and Resource Center.