Developing a Classroom Community

Eligibility

The TA Institute is open to undergraduate and graduate TAs, and all graduate students who are interested in teaching. This session is not open to staff, or faculty.

Event Description:

This session will focus on cultivating an inclusive and supportive classroom community by critically examining and addressing personal and systemic biases that can impact teaching effectiveness. Teaching assistants will engage in deep reflection and skill-building around recognizing unconscious biases, understanding intersectionality, and activities and guided discussions, participants will explore how implicit biases related to race, gender, socioeconomic background, disability, language, and other identity markers can inadvertently influence classroom interactions, grading, student support, and pedagogical approaches. The training will provide practical tools for self-awareness, inclusive communication, fair assessment practices, and creating a classroom culture that values diverse perspectives and experiences. Participants will learn concrete techniques for interrupting bias, promoting student belonging, and developing culturally responsive teaching strategies that support all learners’ potential and academic success.