Program Overview | Training and Development | Roles/Responsibilities |Resources
Upon receipt of the first Teaching Assistant (TA) assignment in a Statistics and Actuarial Science (SAS) course, graduate students are required to complete TA training. This training includes completing the asynchronous LEARN module, Faculty of Mathematics Teaching Assistant Training Course, and the in-person SAS Training Workshop. The in-person workshop is offered at the beginning of the Fall term and must be completed within the first month of the term. If you require accommodation to complete in-person training, please email TA Program.
Students who want to receive further TA training and/or are interested in teaching are strongly encouraged to take part in the department’s Foundations for University Teaching in Statistics and Actuarial Science training program and to explore our additional opportunities.
Foundations Certificate
SAS graduate students who complete the voluntary Foundations for University Teaching in Statistics and Actuarial Science training program outlined below will receive a CTE-supported certificate. You will also receive a letter of experience from the SAS department outlining your full program involvement, including details of your practicums.
The program will take several terms to complete and each level will involve completing a number of requirements, which we refer to as Essentials. The Essentials for each Level will include at least one CTE workshop and one SAS component. Levels 3 and 4 involve practicums, which are evaluated by our team.
The progam’s levels must be completed in order, however you do not need to complete all Essentials for a given level within one term. For example, you can complete the CTE workshop requirements for Essentials 3 (i.e., CTE1106 and CTE1111) in one term and then partake in the practicum in the following term.
|
Level |
Duration |
Offering |
Essentials |
Recommended Workshops |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Proctoring and quality marking |
~4 hours |
Fall Term (starting Fall 2026) |
|
|
Office hours, forums, and emails |
~2 hours |
Fall Term (starting Fall 2026) |
|
|
Tutorials, effective feedback and reviewing of material |
~5 hours |
Every Term |
|
|
Assessment and material creation |
~9 hours |
Every Term (starting Winter 2024) |
|
|
SAS Practicums:
To complete Levels 3 and 4, SAS practicums are a requirement of the corresponding Essentials. This practicum will take place within a course where you are a TA. At least one of the following practicum options listed below must be completed. For Essentials 3, the practicum will be observed by the TA program team and will include a reflection meeting after the observations. For Essentials 4, the practicum option will be chosen in collaboration with the instructor. This practicum will require multiple steps including brainstorming, draft creations, instructor review and a post-practicum reflection.
Level 3 Practicum: Facilitation
- Run a tutorial (PDF) using material provided by the course instructor,
- Run a lecture (PDF) using material provided by the course instructor, or
- Review and edit an assessment (PDF) for the course instructor (e.g., assignment, test, midterm).*
Level 4 Practicum: Creation
- Create and deliver material for an in-class lecture,
- Create and facilitate a tutorial with the topic set by the instructor,
- Create at least three questions for an upcoming assessment (e.g., quiz, test, midterm)*, or
- Create and facilitate a review session with at least three questions/solutions.
* A TA cannot complete both practicums with the assessment option (i.e., an assessment practicum can either be for Level 3 or Level 4, but not both).
Additional Opportunities
Additional training and development opportunities are offered with:
- CTE's Fundamentals of University Teaching Program
- CTE's Certificate in University Teaching
- MATH 900: Math Teaching Techniques
By receiving the Foundations for University Teaching in Statistics and Actuarial Science certificate, a SAS graduate student will have also completed all the required CTE workshops and, depending on the practicums completed in Essentials 3 and 4, up to 2 of the 3 microteaching requirements for CTE’s Fundamentals of University Teaching certificate program.
Graduate students interested in further in-depth training and development of their teaching skills are encouraged to complete the CTE’s Certificate in University Teaching or MATH 900: University Mathematics Teaching Techniques.
Interested in Teaching?
PhDs interested in teaching may get an opportunity to teach a course during their time as a SAS graduate student. The following is a typical pathway to teaching in Statistics and Actuarial Science:
- Enter as a PhD student.
- Discuss possible terms for teaching with your supervisor to ensure that your thesis work load is taken into consideration. Please note that PhD students generally teach after their thesis proposal.
- We recommend that you complete the Foundations for University Teaching in Statistics and Actuarial Science training program or MATH 900.
- Indicate your interest in teaching a course by completing our web form.
Contact the TA Program if you are interested in teaching a specific course to potentially focus your training in that area.