In this session we will discuss cooperative learning principles and how these can be implemented when working with students in recitations, labs, or in class projects. 

Participants will be able to participate in a short cooperative learning experience and take what they learned to apply to their disciplinary teaching contexts. 

Workshop Leader: Dr. Stefanie Baier 

During the academic year, the Dean of the Graduate School, Pero Dagbovie, invites graduate students to join him and his graduate school colleagues for lunch and conversation in Chittenden Hall along the beautiful and historic Laboratory Row.

During the academic year, the Dean of the Graduate School, Pero Dagbovie, invites graduate students to join him and his graduate school colleagues for lunch and conversation in Chittenden Hall along the beautiful and historic Laboratory Row.

Graduate Program Assistants are welcome to attend this training event, hosted by The Graduate School. Topics will include end-of-year processes like RECR, GradPlan, ETDs, and funding deadlines.

During the academic year, the Dean of the Graduate School, Pero Dagbovie, invites graduate students to join him and his graduate school colleagues for lunch and conversation in Chittenden Hall along the beautiful and historic Laboratory Row.

During the academic year, the Dean of the Graduate School, Pero Dagbovie, invites graduate students to join him and his graduate school colleagues for lunch and conversation in Chittenden Hall along the beautiful and historic Laboratory Row.

You are a new Graduate Teaching Assistant and/or want to learn more about MSU’s learning management system (D2L) features to support your instructional role.

Join us for this session in which two experts from MSU Instructional Technology role will get you started on D2L features such as the Gradebook, Accessibility Checkers, Intelligent Agents, and share best practices to effectively use D2L for effective communication and student success. Come prepared to ask questions to get the most out of this session.

This session is part of the 2026 Spring GTA Preparation Program.

Effective grading is a result of understanding how to assess students in a manner that is both helpful to their development and an efficient use of your own time. 

In this session, we will discuss the preparation you should go through to be able to assess students effectively based on Learning Outcomes. You will learn how to write learning outcomes and use Backward Design to align learning outcomes with assessments and learning activities. 

This session is part of the 2026 Spring GTA Preparation Program.

Presenter(s):

Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) play a critical role in fostering student learning and success; however, not everything is smooth sailing! In this workshop, GTAs will be alerted to common academic and personal challenges—such as absences, late or missing assignments, and early withdrawals - which may come up during the semester.

In this session, Dr. Shannon Lynn Burton (MSU Ombudsperson) will present key strategies in discussing the importance of academic integrity, as well as in preventing misconduct, both in its more traditional forms, as well as in the digital space. Additionally, university policies and procedures in responding to misconduct will be explored to assist you in navigating these conversations.

Participants will have the chance to discuss scenarios and think about strategies for how to communicate clearly with students including discussions about AI.