Teaching Orientation for Graduate Students
CTL offers graduate student instructors orientation resources and sessions to learn about practical, evidence-based strategies that they can implement on the first day of class. These orientations help supplement department-based orientations and trainings. CTL orientations are open to all new teaching assistants, teaching fellows, and graduate students in an instructor role. The CTL is grateful to our Graduate Student Advisory Committee for recommendations that have been incorporated into these orientations.
Fall 2025 Teaching Orientation
CTL is pleased to offer teaching orientation materials online, available to Columbia graduate students anytime.
On-demand modules
Five orientation modules are available to all with a Columbia UNI here. These five modules address the following topics:
- Establishing instructional goals and an inclusive learning climate
- TA teaching roles and modalities
- Creating a policy sheet and a first day of class plan
- Common TA challenges, campus resources that help to navigate them
- Next steps for teaching and professional development
Orientation available now!
Current Columbia graduate students are able to access CTL’s Teaching Orientation materials at any time.
In-person programming
Columbia University graduate students preparing for their first TA assignment in Fall 2025 are invited to join the CTL for in-person orientation programs on Thursday, August 28th, 2025 in Butler Library. These in-person offering complements the on-demand orientation modules listed above.
Participants in the in-person orientation will leave with:
- A plan for the first day of class, as well as strategies to overcome common TA challenges.
- Guidance on setting expectations for and engaging with your students.
- A peer mentorship network of first time and more experienced TAs.
A morning session for all registrants will run from 9:30 am – 12:00 pm, featuring the following:
- A panel of experienced graduate student instructors from a range of disciplines who will share how they’ve set expectations for and with students, planned the first day of class activities, navigated challenges with facilitating discussion, and coordinated effectively with faculty instructors.
- Activities to directly prepare you for your teaching assignment, through the development of your own policies and first day of class lesson plans.
Additional activities available to a limited number of registrants will run from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm, for those interested in individualized guidance and practice. These activities include:
- A lunch provided by CTL, featuring informal conversations with experienced and new TAs.
- A Practice Teaching session, providing a chance to try out and get supportive feedback on icebreaker or early class activities.
Please register for one of the following:
- Morning session only, 9:30 am – 12:00 pm (coffee provided) – Register here
- Full day, 9:30 am – 3:00 pm (coffee and lunch provided) – Register here
Note that these slots are limited due to resource and staffing constraints; please sign up for the full day session if you are committed to participating 9:30 – 3:00 pm.
Advice from experienced TAs
During the in-person orientation in Fall 2024, a panel of Columbia graduate students with extensive experienced TAing and teeaching shared a range of perspectives and advice with their peers. A recording of this panel is available here:
Next steps after orientation
The following opportunities are designed to help you build on orientation and pursue sustained pedagogical development during graduate school.
- Register for the Teaching Development Program
- Sign up for Essentials of Teaching and Learning workshops
- Sign up for a Practice Teaching (Microteaching) session
- Visit live CTL office hours for graduate students or request an individual consultation
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can participate in CTL’s orientation?
This orientation is open to all graduate student instructors. It is especially useful for graduate students who are new to teaching.
What’s the difference between CTL’s teaching orientation and ones offered in departments?
CTL’s orientation modules and live programs are meant to complement more discipline-specific preparation offered by departments, programs, and instructors of record overseeing TAs in a course.
Faculty members who are planning teaching orientations within a department have access to CTL’s orientation modules, and we invite them to incorporate and adapt them for discipline-specific contexts. We also encourage orientation planners to refer to recommendations for teaching orientations within departments developed by CTL’s Graduate Student Advisory Committee.
What is the Teaching Development Program, and how does it relate to teaching orientations?
CTL’s Teaching Development Program (TDP) allows doctoral and MFA students to cultivate, document, and articulate their teaching development across the arc of their graduate school career. Participation in the TDP is not a requirement for attending CTL teaching orientations. However, work completed in a CTL orientation counts towards completion of the Foundational Track of the TDP. More information about TDP requirements, certification, and transcript notation is available here.
Are any of the resources from the orientations available separately?
- Frequently Asked Questions for TAs
- CTL programs for graduate students who are beginning to teach
- Online Tutorial: Introduction to Canvas
- Guide to Inclusive Teaching at Columbia
CTL staff is available to meet with you to talk about any aspect of working with students as a Teaching Assistant or Teaching Fellow.
I had a scheduling conflict with the live orientation sessions – will you be running them again?
The asynchronous modules will remain available to the Columbia community throughout the academic year. If you cannot make the live sessions but have a question or would like direct guidance, email CTLgrads@columbia.edu or visit CTLgrads office hours in 212 Butler LIbrary (Fridays, 2:00 – 4:00 PM during the academic year).
CTL runs Essentials of Teaching and Learning workshops, which build on orientation sessions during the academic year, as well as Practice Teaching (Microteaching) sessions. Join the CTL email list to be alerted about upcoming workshops and opportunities.
The CTL is here for graduate students.
The Columbia Center for Teaching and Learning provides an array of support for graduate students in both their current and future teaching responsibilities.