Juggling teaching responsibilities with your own course work and research demands can be overwhelming. Whether this is your first semester teaching or you are a returning TA, this list of resources available through the Center for Teaching that can be used to help you refine your instruction techniques. 

At any time during the semester, you can request a free, confidential teaching consultation with the Center for Teaching to get your questions answered about a variety of teaching-related topics, including: 

• Course design
• Student engagement
• Teaching statements
• Syllabus design
• Navigating tricky moments with students
• AI

You can also request a teaching evaluation to get insight on your instruction techniques or consultations for different ways of generating student feedback throughout the semester.

The University of Iowa offers a special program called TILE (Transform, Interact, Learn, Engage). Two TILE classrooms are located on the first floor of Main Library and others are spread across our library system.

TILE spaces are supplied with flexible seating, whiteboards or glass boards, and a variety of other features that enhance students’ engagement and invite students to actively participate in activities. Most rooms can accommodate up to 81 students. 

In order to access TILE spaces, you need to first complete a series of online, self-paced modules on ICON and then schedule a consultation with the TILE Program. To schedule your appointment, email tile@uiowa.edu with the following information:  

1. Name, department, and HawkID. 

2. First semester you would like to teach in a TILE space (if known). 

3. If there is a TILE space in particular in which you hope to teach.  

4. Where you heard about the TILE program.  

5. Please provide 2 to 3 times during the week when you are usually available (e.g., Thursdays, 1 to 3 pm) for a one-hour consultation. We need at least 2 weeks’ notice to schedule your consultation. 

The Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) helps graduate students and post-doctoral scholars learn effective teaching practice by focusing on three core ideas:

• Teaching as Research
• Learning Through Diversity
• Learning Communities

CIRTL also publishes a series of weekly webinars on evidence-based teaching practices designed for an engaging course experience. Recordings from this most recent cycle are linked online and through UICapture. Topics include syllabus scavenger hunts, facilitating feedback in discussion sections, active learning, and more. 

More information about CIRTL at UI can be found on their website.