CALL FOR ARTICLES

Focus on University Teaching and Learning
Volume 18, No. 2: by TAs for TAs

Call for articles deadline: Monday, December 14, 2009

Click here to download a Word.doc or here to download a .pdf.

Theme

The Centre for Learning and Teaching at Dalhousie University publishes a bi-annual newsletter, Focus on University Teaching and Learning. The Centre is proud to announce the publication of the first issue of Focus on University Teaching and Learning dedicated to the work of Teaching Assistants (to be published September 2010). We want to hear from you!

The theme of this issue of Focus is "Teaching Assistant Approaches to Enhancing Student Learning." Your article could address such questions as:

• In your discipline, what is the role of a TA with respect to enhancing student learning in tutorials, labs, studios or assessment?
• What strategies do you use to enhance student learning?
• Upon reflection, what have you learned from strategies and techniques you have implemented in your teaching? How does this knowledge shape your future teaching strategies?
• What are your goals (course specific and/or long-term) for your students and how do you ensure your students achieve these goals?

Format

Reflective, practical, or research-based articles between 500-1000 words. Examples of TA and faculty teaching and learning articles can be found at:

• focus.html
• http://ctl.stanford.edu/Newsletter/
• http://pi.library.yorku.ca/ojs/index.php/core/issue/archive

Proposals

TAs from all disciplines are encouraged to submit proposals for articles to be included in the first issue of TA Focus. Please ensure your proposal includes the following:

1. Article title
2. Brief proposal (250 word maximum in MS Word)
3. Contact information: full name, email, phone number, and faculty/department

N.B. Graduate students enrolled in the Certificate in University Teaching and Learning can earn 2 professional development credit hours for a successful article submission.

Selection Criteria

Articles will be selected based on the 250 word article proposal, demonstrating suitability in the context of this issue's theme, and to ensure a range of discipline and professional perspectives. Within these broad criteria, proposals that demonstrate a clear purpose and effective communication style are more likely to be accepted.

Deadline

The deadline for the submission of proposals is Monday, December 14, 2009. Please submit your proposal by email to Jennifer MacDonald, CLT Graduate Teaching Associate, by email at jn220498@dal.ca. Deadline for the first draft of articles, subsequent to acceptance, will be on or before Monday, February 22, 2010.