2026 Instructional Assistant
Teaching Symposium
Wednesday, September 23, 2026 • 9:00 A.M. - 1:30 P.M.
All sessions will be held via Zoom.
Embedded Files
2026 Instructional Assistant
Symposium Schedule
Symposium Schedule
Schedule is subject to change
Getting to the sessions
Getting to the sessions
A Zoom link will be sent to all registrants - this link will bring you to the main room, which is where all sessions will take place. The same Zoom link is listed below for each session for quick access. Teaching and Learning Commons staff will be available throughout the symposium to support you with getting to your session and to answer any questions you may have.
Note: Spending a full day on Zoom takes a lot of energy, so we encourage you to be mindful of your needs and take short breaks to stretch, hydrate, and eat. Short breaks are also scheduled between each session.
9:00-10:20am PT
9:00-10:20am PT
Welcome & Morning Panel: A Day in the Life of an IA
Welcome & Morning Panel: A Day in the Life of an IA
Zoom link (UCSD email required): https://ucsd.zoom.us/j/99964138274
We invite you to begin the symposium in the company of experienced Instructional Assistants from across campus as they discuss suggestions on preparing for your first day of teaching, including considerations for community building, time management, and how to prepare without over-preparing, with time reserved specifically for participant questions.
Panelist will share insights about topics such as:
How do you balance helping students while also maintaining boundaries?
What does the day-to-day work look like as an Instructional Assistant and how do you navigate that with your research and other responsibilities?
What do you do if you feel underprepared? How do you teach the content if you are just learning it yourself?
What is one piece of advice that you wish you knew going into your first experience as an IA?
10:30-10:50am PT
10:30-10:50am PT
Setting the Tone for Day 1
Setting the Tone for Day 1
Zoom link (UCSD email required): https://ucsd.zoom.us/j/99964138274
This workshop examines how instructors can cultivate trust to support productive struggle and learning in the classroom beginning day 1. Together, we will explore several types of classroom interaction and provide practical strategies for building rapport and a sense of belonging for your students.
10:55-11:15am PT
10:55-11:15am PT
Engaging Students in a Multilingual, Multicultural Classroom: A Guide for First Time TAs
Engaging Students in a Multilingual, Multicultural Classroom: A Guide for First Time TAs
Zoom link (UCSD email required): https://ucsd.zoom.us/j/99964138274
This session provides IAs with eight actionable strategies to foster inclusive, effective communication across linguistically, culturally, and neurodiverse classrooms. IAs will learn how to break down learning barriers, connect with individual students, and implement versatile engagement methods that ensure every voice is heard.
11:20-11:40am PT
11:20-11:40am PT
Planning Engaging Activities for Students
Planning Engaging Activities for Students
Zoom link (UCSD email required): https://ucsd.zoom.us/j/99964138274
Designed for IAs across all disciplines, this session introduces low-prep active learning techniques that help students engage with and check their understanding about course concepts.
12:00-12:20pm PT
12:00-12:20pm PT
Questions You Can’t Answer: Guiding Students in Learning
Questions You Can’t Answer: Guiding Students in Learning
Zoom link (UCSD email required): https://ucsd.zoom.us/j/99964138274
Are you feeling anxious about students asking questions you are not sure how to answer? This session prepares IAs to utilize these moments as learning opportunities by implementing interaction strategies to guide student learning and responding to student questions in ways that foster continued discussion.
12:25-12:45pm PT
12:25-12:45pm PT
Providing Meaningful Feedback on Writing
Providing Meaningful Feedback on Writing
Zoom link (UCSD email required): https://ucsd.zoom.us/j/99964138274
Join us for this microlearning session that will explore effective and equitable practices and strategies for giving feedback and grading for writing assignments. We’ll share skills for providing constructive feedback for our students that is specific, actionable, and focused on promoting student growth and learning in our classrooms.
12:50-1:30pm PT
12:50-1:30pm PT
Closing Panel: Teaching as an International Graduate Student
Closing Panel: Teaching as an International Graduate Student
Zoom link (UCSD email required): https://ucsd.zoom.us/j/99964138274
Don't forget to submit your exit ticket!
Don't forget to submit your exit ticket!
Your feedback is important to us and we’d love to learn about your IA Symposium experience. Don't forget to submit your exit ticket at the end of today's symposium to enter our opportunity drawing for a chance to receive UCSD swag!
In addition to the exit ticket, every synchronous session you attend enters you into the opportunity drawing. If you attend three sessions and submit the exit ticket, that's four submissions!
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