Lead Writing TA

University of Toronto; St. George; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 50,000; Part time

Job summary

An established educational institution is seeking a dedicated individual to assist in writing instruction training. This role involves collaborating with course instructors and TAs, designing training sessions, and developing resources to enhance writing pedagogy. Ideal candidates will be current PhD students with strong communication and administrative skills. The position requires flexibility to accommodate training sessions and meetings, making it a perfect opportunity for those passionate about education and writing. Join a vibrant academic community focused on improving student learning outcomes and fostering effective writing skills.

Qualifications

• Current PhD student with at least two years' experience as a course TA.
• Strong administrative and time management skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Participate in training sessions and collaborate with course instructors.
• Design and lead training sessions for course TAs on writing-related topics.

Skills

Excellent oral communication

Interpersonal skills

Strong administrative skills

Time management

Facilitation and presentation skills

Superior writing skills

Education

PhD student

Doctoral candidate in the Department for the Study of Religion

Job description

Duties:

1. Participate in training sessions (with LWTAs from other units) in July and throughout the year (late August, early January, and an end-of-year event);
2. Read book chapters, articles, etc. on writing pedagogy;
3. Meet with WIT staff, departmental WIT Contacts, and course instructors to plan writing assignment activities and tutorials, labs, or lectures;
4. Design and lead training sessions and consultations for course TAs on writing-related topics, such as providing feedback to students on critical reading, writing, and planning tutorial/lab activities related to writing;
5. Develop and/or adapt resources on writing instruction (such as marking rubrics and assignments) for instructors, TAs, and students;
6. Communicate regularly by email and in person with course instructors, WIT staff, departmental WIT Contacts, and others to implement WIT activities;
7. Collaborate with LWTAs in other units by meeting in peer groups and sharing writing instruction resources;
8. Collect and analyze data on WIT (e.g., surveys, student writing samples, TA and instructor focus groups);
9. Document activities (e.g., help draft WIT goals, provide monthly updates, write a final report about WIT activities in the unit).

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Current PhD student with at least two years' experience as a course TA, including leading tutorials/labs, in-class instruction, or grading;
2. Excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills, especially in working effectively with administrators, course instructors, and TAs;
3. Strong administrative skills, including scheduling meetings and training sessions, planning, and documenting work;
4. Strong time management skills with the ability to meet multiple deadlines;
5. Strong facilitation and presentation skills and/or experience leading workshops;
6. Evidence of superior writing skills in their discipline;
7. Flexible schedule, willing and able to accommodate short notice requests for meetings with WIT staff, course instructors, and TAs.

Note:

• The applicant must be available for approximately 25 hours of training and preparatory work throughout July and August, including online training from July 23-25, 2024, and in-person training on August 28, 2024, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm Eastern.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Doctoral candidate in the Department for the Study of Religion is preferred, along with previous experience as a WIT TA in any RLG course;
2. Previous experience is more relevant than the need to acquire experience for this position.