Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) Teaching Orientation: Fall 2024

Resource Title:
Graduate Student Instructor Teaching Orientation

The Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT) will offer Fall 2024 GSI Teaching Orientation (GSITO) as an online Canvas course available beginning Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. In addition to engaging with asynchronous modules, GSIs will have the opportunity to participate in an online, synchronous practice teaching session (GSIs will choose from practice teaching sessions offered from August 15 - 23). Completion of online GSITO must occur by 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 28, 2024. 

If you are a graduate student, this website should provide all the information you need to know about how to become enrolled in GSITO, what you may need to complete, and answers to frequently asked questions. If you are GSI Contact (an individual responsible for or involved in the training of incoming Graduate Student Instructors) for your specific department, please go to the Guide to GSITO for GSI Contacts wepbage for information that pertains to you.

How GSIs Will Enroll in GSITO: 

  1. If you already have a GSI appointment: We will receive your name and contact information from your department, and we will directly add you to the GSITO Canvas site, which will launch on Tuesday, August 6, at noon. We will also send you an email with instructions for selecting a Practice Teaching session.
  2. If you:
    • will not have a GSI appointment in Fall 2024, 
    • do not yet know whether you will have a GSI appointment,
    • wish to participate in a portion of GSITO again,
    • would like to fulfill GTC-related requirements,
    • or would like to complete Practice Teaching, please fill out this form.

To complete the online Canvas course portion of Fall 2024 GSITO, participants must complete at least 6 modules in the Canvas course:

  • All participants must complete all of the following modules to access the following modules:
    • Module 1 - Welcome to Teaching at U-M
      • Remarks from the Dean of Rackham 
      • GSI Role and Responsibilities, including policy information such as:
        • religious-academic conflicts 
        • prohibited instructor-student relationships 
        • grading, FERPA, and academic integrity
    • Module 2 - Act for Equity: A Presentation by the CRLT Players 
    • Module 3 - Teaching for Equity During the First Week and Beyond 
    • Module 4 - Mental Health and Well-being for GSIs and Students
  • Participants who want to participate in an online, synchronous practice teaching session must complete modules 1-4 and Module 5 - Preparing for Practice Teaching, before participating in a practice teaching session
  • All participants must complete at least 2 of the following modules based on participants’ interests / needs:
    • Module 6 - Planning a Class Session 
    • Module 7 - Engaging Students in Face-to-Face and Online Classes
    • Module 8 - Teaching for Accessibility 
    • Module 9 - Technology for the First Days of Teaching
    • Module 10 - Facilitating Group Work to Maximize Learning 
    • Module 11 - Grading Assignments and Exams 
  • Module 12 - Graduate Employees' Organization (GEO) Resources, is an optional module for participants to learn more about the various benefits and workplace protections Graduate Student Instructors have

If you have any questions about GSITO, please email us at crlt.gsito@umich.edu

FAQs
CRLT's GSI Teaching Orientation is designed to help new GSIs teaching on the Ann Arbor campus to prepare for their initial teaching experiences. It also has proven to be a valuable event for experienced GSIs and for graduate students who anticipate teaching in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions about GSITO

When and Where is GSITO?

 

Fall 2024 GSI Teaching Orientation (GSITO) is an online Canvas course available beginning on August 6. In addition to engaging with asynchronous modules, GSIs will have the opportunity to participate in online, synchronous Practice Teaching sessions offered from August 15 - 23 (exact times will be communicated to GSIs via email).

 

How Will I be Notified that the Canvas Course has Launched/is Available?

The Canvas course will be available starting August 6 at noon. You will receive an automated Canvas email when the orientation begins, notifying you of your enrollment in the CRLT GSI Teaching Orientation. You will need to accept your role as a student to access the Canvas Course.

Am I Required to Participate in GSITO?

CRLT provides university-wide GSI Teaching Orientations as a service to the campus community. You should check with the individual(s) who oversee GSI appointments in the department in which you will be teaching to find out whether participation in GSITO is required for your GSI appointment.

I Can’t Participate in GSITO When it is Available. What Can I do for a Make-up?

CRLT does not determine whether GSITO is required for new GSIs, nor does it host a make-up event. Check with the individual(s) who oversee GSI appointments in your department to find out what its training requirements are. If there is no formalized policy regarding make-up events, CRLT is happy to consult with departments on establishing such a policy. GSI Coordinators can contact GSITO directors (crlt.gsito@umich.edu) to set up a time to discuss this issue.

How Can I Receive Accommodations for GSITO?

CRLT is committed to making our orientation as accessible as is possible. If you would benefit from accommodations to aid you in accessing the online orientation, please let us know as soon as possible by emailing crlt.gsito@umich.edu.

Where Can I Find Future GSITO Dates?

This webpage will be updated each semester with information about the upcoming orientation. Fall 2024 GSITO dates are August 6 through August 28, with Practice Teaching sessions offered from August 15 - 23.