Programs for Graduate Students

Graduate Teaching Orientation (GTO)

Graduate Teaching Orientation (GTO) is dedicated to helping graduate students who are teaching for the first time at the University of Missouri. All graduate students (domestic and international) with teaching assistantships and responsibilities who have not previously taught at the University of Missouri are required to attend GTO. Please be sure to register for the event if you have been assigned to a role listed below.

NEW SERIES – Grad/Postdoc Effective Teaching Alternative Digital Credential

The Teaching for Learning Center is offering this new Alternative Digital Credential (ADC) for graduate students and postdocs who complete the requirements of our Graduate Student & Postdoc Teaching for Learning Development Program–a series of online sessions that focus on essential teaching competencies. This ADC is a great way to showcase your dedication to developing the skills needed to design and teach a course from start to finish.

Program participants can learn how to:

  • Generate measurable course learning objectives
  • Identify assessment and feedback practices aligned with those objectives
  • Select instructional strategies and materials that support the education of diverse student populations

To earn the ADC, you need to do a couple of things:

  • For those who complete Graduate Teaching Orientation (GTO)—attend 3 sessions
  • For those who don’t complete GTO— attend 5 sessions
  • For everyone, complete a brief online reflection after each session

Here is more information and registration about these sessions.

  1. Introduction to Course Design – Friday, September 19, 2025 – 12:00 – 12:45pm
  2. Introduction to Assessment and Feedback – Friday, October 17, 2025 – 12:00 – 12:45pm
  3. Introduction to Active Learning – Friday, November 14, 2025 – 12:00 – 12:45pm
  4. Designing a Syllabus: Communicating a Student-Centered Learning Experience – Friday, December 12, 2025 – 12:00 – 12:45pm
  5. Effectively Organize Your Class Lectures and Presentations, Friday, February 20, 2026 – 12:00 – 12:45pm
  6. Student Preparedness: Teaching to Bridge the Gap, Friday, March 13, 2026 – 12:00 – 12:45pm
  7. Introduction to Active Learning – Friday, April 10, 2026 – 12:00 – 12:45pm
  8. Designing a Syllabus: Communicating a Student-Centered Learning Experience – Friday, April 24, 2026 – 12:00 – 12:45pm

Graduate Teaching Roles:

Graduate Instructors either work independently to decide the order, specific materials, and the pace of a class, or work with a Course Coordinator to ensure they cover the same materials at the same pace as other sections of the class. 

These studio graduate instructors rarely teach using a lecture format.  Instead, students focus on developing technical skills and developing creative projects.  These courses are often found in the design fields including art and architecture.

Discussion/Recitation leaders typically meet weekly with students in their section(s) to do things such as discuss class material, clarify concepts based on what the students have learned in a large lecture class, lead students in activities, and assist students with assignments.   

Lab TAs are typically responsible for meeting weekly with students in a lab classroom, reviewing lab procedures when the lab begins, and working with students individually or in small groups throughout the lab experience.  These include Biology, Chemistry, and Physics labs as well as a variety of computer-based lab experiences.

Class assistants help the instructor of a large lecture class.  Responsibilities may include helping small groups of students during class activities, proctoring tests, and holding office hours to assist student

Office Hours Assistants hold office hours where students can come for individual assistance when needed.

Graders are responsible for grading assignments and tests as well as providing written or other feedback and results to students. 

GTO will help prepare graduate students for the classroom. Sessions typically include the following:

  • Campus offices, centers, and policies that students with teaching roles should be aware of
  • Graduate student panel providing insights and advice based on their experiences teaching on campus
  • Online technologies to support teaching and learning
  • Building rapport with students on the first day and throughout the semester
  • Inclusive teaching strategies to support the development of a community of learners
  • Strategies for handling difficult situations that may come up when teaching