Graduate Teaching Resources

The centrality of teaching as part of graduate student life cannot be overestimated. There are two dimensions to this: 1) learning to teach and to communicate ideas that form part of the disciplinary tradition of anthropology; and 2) work that is covered by and regulated according to the agreements negotiated between the graduate workers' labor representatives and the university's central administration. This page is exclusively addressed to issues of pedagogical practice and skills development, and provides information on resources that may assist you in this respect.

 
Collaborative Departmental Resources

Teaching Assistants within the Anthropology Department have developed a collection of resources that offer guidance to fellow TAs on a variety of issues. The materials can be accessed through the Anthropology Teaching Assistant Resource Wiki. Created by and for Anthropology TAs, these pages enable ongoing dialogue about pedagogical approaches and techniques. Of special note are the materials developed by M Constantine on Experimental Writing Pedagogy and those by Chazelle Rhoden on Teaching Personal Wellness and Anti-Oppressive Pedagogy

These resources are available due to the creativity and initiative of the Lead Teaching Fellows (LTFs) within the Anthropology Department and are offered as part of our intellectual commons. More information about current and past fellows, including profiles with contact information, can be found in the LTF Directory. The LTFs organize a range of events and workshops over the course of the year to foster conversations about teaching techniques among current TAs and other graduate students, and they also hold regular office hours.

 
Center for Teaching and Learning

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) at Columbia University offers a range of resources for graduate students, including those just beginning to teach and those presently on the job market. The website’s Resources and Technology page provides resources specific to online teaching, as well as support for using CourseWorks. It also includes resources and guides for inclusive teaching and anti-racist pedagogy. In addition to the online resources provided, the CTL offers workshops, trainings, and other opportunities to reflect upon and improve approaches to teaching throughout the school year, including an orientation for new Teaching Assistants and a Teaching Development Program. These are listed on the site’s Offerings for Graduate Students page.

The CTL also offers various funding opportunities. Visit the Fellowships and Opportunities for Graduate Students page to learn more about positions as Lead Teaching Fellows, Teaching Observation Fellows, Teaching Assessment Fellows, and others. There is also information about applying for funding to travel to conferences that focus on teaching practices in higher education.

 
Courseworks

The Courseworks site has numerous resources and links that can assist in teaching, from calendars to information on copyright. It also hosts resources for teaching with Zoom, and information on both Vergil and Canvas. Visit Courseworks HERE.

 
American Anthropological Association: Learn and Teach

The American Anthropological Association (AAA) provides a range of useful resources for both Teaching Assistants and students on its Learn and Teach page. The site includes general information about the field of anthropology, ethics and methods, human rights, anthropological organizations, and internship and fellowship opportunities.

The AAA's Society for Cultural Anthropology also hosts resources for teaching, including syllabi suggestions on its Teaching Tools page. Additional resources may also be found on the Society for Political and Legal Anthropology (PoLaR) site's page dedicated to Teaching Resources.

 

Modern Language Association Style Center

The Modern Language Association (MLA) Style Center has a wide collection of teaching resources and lesson plans. Many of these resources are oriented towards improving students’ writing, addressing an array of topics from research practices and rhetorical techniques to citation formats and grammatical issues. It is also possible to submit your own teaching resources and lesson plans to be published on the website.

 

Pedagogy Colloquium

The Pedagogy Colloquium, organized by the Department of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University, provides fresh insight and new perspectives about teaching, along with practical tips for applying to different teaching positions. The colloquium hosts events and posts blog entries about pertinent topics, including approaches to antiracist pedagogy.

 

Columbia Libraries

The Columbia Libraries website provides a range of research resources that students may find helpful for particular projects. It also contains important information about the Honor Pledge, found on the Academic Integrity page. Tools for formatting citations are available on the References & Citation Management page. The page also includes a link to the Purdue Writing Lab, which provides guidelines for citations following APA, Chicago, and MLA formatting. It may be useful to direct students to the site prior to the submission of written assignments.

 

Columbia University Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action

The Columbia University Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action website provides important information for employees of the university, including Teaching Assistants. The site includes a link to the Columbia TA Guide, a training for all Teaching Assistants. It also provides important information about policies surrounding non-discrimination, harassment and gender-based misconduct, romantic and sexual relationships, pay transparency, and accessibility and disability accommodations. Additional information may be found on the pages of this website devoted to 'Equity and Diversity' and 'Rights and Protections.'