Graduate Teaching Toolkit, or "GTA Toolkit" is a series of monthly workshops offered throughout the fall and spring semesters, led by graduate students for graduate students. Workshops cover a range of topics meant to reinforce or deepen graduate students’ understanding of teaching and learning strategies they can immediately apply to practice. Toolkit workshops are also an opportunity for graduate students to learn from each other and build community around a culture of teaching at Ohio State.
GTA Toolkit workshops are designed by graduate students for graduate students. They aim to support participants’ professional development, engage them in reflection and discussion, and build community among graduate instructors on campus who are passionate about improving their teaching.
All graduate students, regardless of teaching experience, are welcome to attend.
Spring 2026 GTA Toolkit Workshops
Many graduate students will confront challenges associated with course design, whether as a graduate student instructor, while preparing materials for the academic job market, or early in their post-graduation careers. This semester, Graduate Teaching Toolkit will explore each step of the course design process.
January: Creating Teaching Statements and Teaching Portfolios
January 26, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Are you preparing for the academic job market or applying for the Graduate Associate Teaching Award (GATA)? Are you feeling unsure where to begin with crafting your teaching portfolio? In this workshop, participants will gain familiarity with the elements of successful teaching portfolios, learn about best practices for writing and organizing their materials, and practice drafting their own teaching statements. Crafting a strong teaching statement is a valuable skill for anyone involved in teaching, providing a foundation you can build on now to enhance your teaching, develop a compelling portfolio, and prepare for future opportunities in academia or beyond.
Graduate students at any stage in drafting their materials are welcome to attend. Lunch will be provided.
Creating Teaching Statements and Teaching Portfolios
February: Beginning Steps of Course Design
February 16, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Do you want to create a course where every activity and assessment supports exactly what you intend to teach? In this workshop, participants will explore backward design, a proven approach to course planning. The backward design process begins with learning goals and works backward to craft meaningful assessments and effective instructional strategies. Even if you won’t be designing a course yourself, experimenting with backward design as a TA is a practical way to strengthen your teaching skills, create portfolio-ready examples, and prepare for future opportunities in academia or other education-focused careers.
In this workshop, you will learn backward design step-by-step, from defining clear course goals to creating measurable learning outcomes and aligned assessments. You will leave with a practical framework, resources, and portfolio-ready examples that demonstrate how to align teaching, activities, and assessments.
Lunch will be provided.
Beginning Steps of Course Design
March: Designing Transparent Learning Experiences
March 9, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Do your students ever ask why they are completing a particular task or how the work in front of them connects to the goals of the course? Whether you create your own assignments or support someone else’s course, clearer communication can significantly improve how students understand and engage with your teaching.
This toolkit session introduces transparency as a practical and flexible approach to strengthening student learning. Participants will explore the Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT) model to clarify the purpose, task, and criteria for classroom assignments. The session will also highlight strategies for making expectations explicit, reducing confusion, and addressing elements of the hidden curriculum that often create barriers for students. Participants will leave with concrete tools for creating more transparent and supportive learning experiences in a wide range of instructional settings.
Lunch will be provided.
Designing Transparent Learning Experiences
April: Teaching What You Don't Know
April 13, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Do you feel unprepared when teaching a course or lesson outside your area of expertise? Are you intimidated by questions you can’t fully answer? You’re not alone! Teaching outside one's expertise happens more often than you might expect, and it’s manageable with some intentional planning.
This toolkit workshop provides practical strategies for navigating unfamiliar content with confidence and intention. Participants will learn how to efficiently sequence topics, respond effectively to challenging questions and create a classroom environment that models curiosity and collaborative learning. Participants will gain confidence, learn strategies to teach beyond their expertise, and reflect on their practice to approach the unknown with curiosity.
Lunch will be provided.
Who facilitates the workshops?
All GTA Toolkit workshops are developed and facilitated by Drake Institute Graduate Consultants, advanced graduate students at Ohio State who have demonstrated exemplary instruction and a commitment to advancing teaching and learning.