Thank you for working to improve the climate in CS learning spaces! We hope this resource is helpful...
An introduction to ideas and strategies which can help TAs interact more effectively and respectfully with students
Strategies TAs can use to improve their own learning practices and support effective learning practices in others
Exposure to information and concepts which give TAs the opportunity to develop empathy and take an interest in the experiences of others
A shared vocabulary for discussing the impact that identity and sense of belonging can have on a person's educational experience
A starting point for learning more about diversity, equity, and inclusion
Details about the logistics of TA jobs (these vary greatly depending on the institution and the roles TAs are expected to play)
In depth or exhaustive exploration of the topics
Discussion or a community of practice
While we have tried to present the content of this course in a way that will be approachable for people coming from a wide variety of backgrounds with a wide variety of world views, we can't guarantee that your TAs will be open to learning about these topics. Here are some ways you can encourage your TAs to engage with the material productively:
Look through the course yourself so that you are familiar with what your TAs will be seeing and (hopefully) thinking about.
Describe your reasons for adopting this course as part of the preparation for their roles as TAs. Remind them that the understanding and skills they can develop through this course have the power to benefit them in all aspects of their life, both professional and personal.
Encourage your TAs to take the Reflections embedded in the course seriously. You can find recommendations for ways to utilize the course Reflections on the Using Course Reflections page.
Organize facilitated discussion groups to allow TAs an opportunity to engage with each other about this material. Your TAs will get much more out of the course if they have structured opportunities to discuss their reactions to course content. However, leaving them to discuss sensitive and personal topics without facilitation has the potential to do more harm than good. We have provided some Tips for Facilitating Discussions to help you think about how to establish community guidelines to keep the conversation respectful and productive.
Require completion of the course as part of continued employment. How strictly you enforce this is up to you, but we expect that the TAs who will benefit the most from this material will not give it a try if they think it is optional. You can find information about how to keep track of their topic completion on the Topic Completion Reports page.
Encourage further learning for your TAs and your colleagues. And one of the best ways to encourage further learning is to do so yourself! The content in this course is just a starting point...
If you run into problems or want to send us feedback, please email us at aiice.ta.pd@gmail.com