GTA Workshop frequently asked questions

General questions about GRAD 5004, the GTA Workshop 

Q: What is the course about?

A:  The Graduate Teaching Assistant Workshop (GRAD 5004), is a required pass/fail course provides recommendations and advice from dedicated faculty, staff, and experienced graduate students and to assist GTAs in developing as teachers. The covered topics and material also help develop the knowledge base and skills of future faculty members and aspiring professional practitioners. The course can also be used towards the Future Professoriate Certificate for students intending to become university educators. You can learn more about graduate certificates in the Graduate Catalog.

The workshop consists of Phase I and Phase II sessions. Phase I takes place on Tuesday or Thursday before the semester begins. Phase II presentations are offered throughout the semester. Once registered for the course, students are added to the GTA workshop Canvas course where they can find all course requirements, announcements, and deadlines.

Q: Who has to take this course?

A: This course is required for all GTAs, preferably during their first semester as a GTA. Those funded on a GRA or GA appointment or without university funding do not need to take the course, though they may elect to do so.     

Q: What do I have to do to pass this course?

A: This is a pass/fail class.  In order to pass, a student must  attend the required Phase I and Phase II sessions in person or online or view a recording, and complete all required assignments.  

Q: Who is the instructor and how do I contact them?

A: Dr. Kevin Edgar is the instructor of record for the course who organizes the sessions with the help of GTAs. Dr. Edgar and the GTAs coordinate the class and communicate with the students throughout the semester.  Dr. Edgar is an Associate Dean in the Graduate School and a professor in the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials.  

Questions about GRAD 5004 Phase I & II

Q: What is Phase I?

A: Phase I is a half-day, multi-component workshop that consists of plenary speakers who provide information to all GTAs, most recently including the following topics:

• Graduate Education in the 21st Century
• Family Education Rights and Privacy (FERPA)
• Accessible Technologies
• Graduate Student Panel
• Services for Students with Disabilities
• Academic Integrity and Undergraduate Honor System
• Title IX and VAWA
• Campus Safety and Security in the Classroom
• GRAD 5004 Expectations and Requirements

For in-person presentations, bring your Hokie ID to swipe in to verify your attendance.  

Q: When is Phase I held?

A:  In the fall semester, Phase I is held on the Tuesday before classes start; in the spring semester, Phase I is held on the Thursday before classes start. Registrants are added to the course Canvas site and receive announcements about course details, assignments and deadlines.  

Q: What is Phase II?

A: Phase II consists of multiple sessions students can choose from a list of topics based on their particular needs and interests. Some topics are required for all students, while other topics are electives.  If you complete a session by viewing a recording, you will need to successfully complete a short quiz on that session to get credit for it (no quiz required for synchronous attendees, whether in person or online). 

Q: How do I register for Phase II sessions?

A: Once you are enrolled in the course, you will get access to the course Canvas site; you can register for in-person sessions there, by a process that is explained on the main page.

Q: What is the written assignment in the class?

A: Most of the written assignment are designed to help you reflect on what you have learned and how this might help your teaching. A complete description and instructions for preparing and submitting the assignment and examples are posted on the course Canvas site. You will submit your assignment in the “Assignments” tab on Canvas (not as an attachment to the instructor or GTA!) any time during the semester up until the assignment deadline, which will also be communicated via Canvas.

Q: I am not a GTA or I have taken the class before. How do I drop the class?
A: If you do not have a GTA appointment and will not have one in the future, you may drop the course as you would any other course.

Q: I am a graduate student who has taught before, I am a student who will be grading only, or I was a GTA in the Spring semester and did not take the class. Do I need to attend the workshop?
A: Yes. This is a required course for all Virginia Tech GTAs.

Q: My department is holding its orientation on the same day as the GTA workshop. What should I do?
A: Since the GTA workshop is always held the Tuesday before fall classes start and the Thursday before spring classes start, and the requirement is known to all departments and programs, this sort of scheduling conflict should never happen. Please inform your department that you must attend the workshop. They can either postpone a part of the department's orientation or finish it early. 

Questions about GRAD 5004 Phase II Sessions

Q: How are the points of Online Library Sessions and Securing the Human posted on my gradebook?

A: Please confirm your completion of online sessions by checking your attendance record on Canvas. It takes up to two weeks to update your attendance grade on Canvas. If your attendance is not updated after two weeks, reach out to the course GTAs. 

Q: Should I complete all the three Online Library Sessions to satisfy the TTS requirements?

A: No, the first component is mandatory, however you choose one of the other two components. Thus, you will complete 2 components of this training module for it to be considered complete. 

Q: What is the minimum passing score for each Online Library Sessions’ modules?

A: The minimum passing score is 80 percent of the total of EACH module point. 

Q: What are the maximum points assigned for each of Phase I and Phase II sessions?

A: The point values of each assignment are communicated on Canvas. You will be expected to attend each entire session and participate fully. You will get full points for each session attendance or completion. If you do not attend, you get 0 (zero) points. 

• If you do not complete Phase I, you are required to drop the course or you will end up earning an F (FAIL) grade. If you retake the course in another semester and earn a passing grade (P), your previous F grade will be changed to RG.
• If you miss one Phase II session during the semester, you will earn an I (Incomplete) grade. This INCOMPLETE grade can be changed to PASS when you complete the missed Phase II session in the following semester. 
• If you miss two or more Phase II sessions, you will earn an F grade in the class. If you retake the course in another semester and earn a passing grade (P), your previous F grade will be changed to RG. 

Q: What if I was denied attendance points after attending one or some of the sessions?

A: You will be expected to attend each session in their entirety and participate fully. We recommend that you record each session you completed, and the date on which you completed it; keep that record until the course is complete.

Q: What if I only need to take one Phase II session to resolve an incomplete in the following semester? Should I register for GRAD 5004 again?

A: If you have only one session to attend to resolve a past incomplete, DO NOT register for the course again. You should contact the GTA in charge in the following semester via e-mail to be added to the course Canvas site for that semester, so that you can complete the one missing element and resolve the incomplete. Once you have completed that element, you should then inform the GTA that you have done so; the instructor will arrange to resolve the incomplete.