Quick Links for Graduate Students & Postdoctoral Scholars

Programs, resources, and services to help TAs answer Postdocs elevate their teaching at UCLA.

The Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) supports Teaching Assistants (TAs) and Postdoctoral Scholars through its Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholar Engagement (GSPSE) unit. GSPSE provides TAs and postdocs with pedagogical training, resources, and programs to enrich their professional development and aid the transition into the next stage of their careers, both within and beyond academia.

Through ongoing engagement with the TLC, TAs and postdocs gain tools to create inclusive, student-centered learning experiences as well as design courses, syllabi, and lesson plans for a range of disciplines, student skill levels, and learning environments. They also build classroom confidence by honing their skills in classroom facilitation, public speaking, mentorship, and more. GSPSE additionally aids TAs and postdocs in developing compelling teaching philosophies and refining their teaching demonstrations to support job applications and their future careers.

Programs

Collegium of University Teaching Fellows (CUTF) – for TAs only
CUTF prepares advanced graduate students for careers in academia by offering opportunities to propose, design, and teach an undergraduate course with support from TLC staff, faculty mentors, and a peer learning community.

Teaching Assistant Consultants (TAC) Program – for TAs only
The TLC provides funding on an application basis for Teaching Assistant Consultants (TACs) to support 495 TA training courses.

TA & Postdoc Teaching Conference
This annual conference offers opportunities for novice and experienced instructors to build a community of colleagues and hone their teaching skills.

TA Training – for TAs only
The TLC helps graduate students and departments navigate TA training requirements set by UCLA’s Graduate Council, which include enrollment in a 495 pedagogy course to satisfy basic pedagogy training and discipline-based training, and completion of Professional Standards and Ethics Training (PSET).

Resources

A Quick Guide to Becoming a Teaching Assistant at UCLA
This guide provides an overview of how to become a TA, including eligibility and training requirements, the application process, and tips for being a competitive candidate.

Digital Accessibility for Teaching and Learning
To meet upcoming federal guidance on digital accessibility standards, those teaching at UCLA may need to adjust their course materials. These resources will provide strategies for creating digital course content that all people can access and use.

Maintaining Instructional Continuity
These resources provide guidance and support to instructors who may be facing personal struggles while managing their courses during challenging times. This includes tips for managing difficult classroom conversations, guidance on responding to classroom emergencies, resources for those most impacted by anticipated federal policies, and slides instructors can use to communicate with their students.

Teaching Bulletins
These instructional resources offer guidance to instructors on managing their classrooms, including best practices for incorporating Zoom, how to protect privacy and data while addressing digital accessibility, and AI tools available at UCLA.

Teaching Guides
These instructional resources provide in-depth guidance on various topics to help instructors understand important pedagogical practices and approaches, facilitating their seamless integration into teaching.

Preparing to Teach
These resources provide best practices and guidelines helpful to all instructors, from those new to teaching to more experienced ones. This includes guidance on using the learning management system Bruin Learn, steps to incorporate digital accessibility into courses, strategies on using generative AI in the classroom, and more.

Services

Consultations
The TLC collaborates with instructors to aid in course development, student learning assessment, and classroom technologies to foster an engaging classroom experience. Schedule a meeting with the TLC staff.

Instructional Design
The TLC’s Instructional Designers aid educators in crafting innovative course materials and integrating technology tools to foster an effective learning experience for all students. Learn more about how we can collaborate to meet your instructional goals.

Media Production
Whether recording one lecture or a full course, our Media Production team supports instructors in creating impactful multimedia content that helps students connect to course material.

Student Experiences of Teaching (SET)
Data collected in our Student Experiences of Teaching (SET) surveys can provide helpful information for updating spring courses or developing future classes. The TLC Assessment Guide for Instructors provides suggestions for interpreting the data and encouraging student engagement.

Test Scoring
The TLC offers a free test-scoring service to all UCLA instructors who administer multiple-choice exams. This provides an efficient and accurate means of grading multiple-choice exams, and includes reports to help improve the testing process.