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Small Group Teaching and Lab Demonstration

The Small Group Teaching and Lab Demonstration course is offered annually by the Centre for Educational Development (CED) at Queen’s.

The course supports new Teaching Assistants and Lab Demonstrators as they transition into their roles by introducing key teaching and learning principles and practical approaches that can be applied in small group and laboratory settings.

The course is delivered through Canvas VLE on a self-paced basis, allowing participants to work through the materials at a time that suits you.

Read the FAQs below for more information. Questions not answered here can be directed to ced@qub.ac.uk.

Four students having a discussion in a classroom

This introductory course is designed for Teaching Assistants, PhD researchers and Lab Demonstrators who are new to teaching. No prior teaching experience is required.

The course provides an introduction to key areas of learning and teaching that will help you prepare for your role as a Teaching Assistant or Lab Demonstrator.

Topics include:

  • The role of the Teaching Assistant or Lab Demonstrator
  • Creating a positive learning environment
  • Active learning
  • Inclusive teaching practices
  • Digital accessibility
  • Using Canvas to support learning
  • Assessment and feedback

On completion of the course, participants will be able to:

  • Apply a range of active teaching methods to engage students
  • Foster a positive learning environment that supports student success
  • Demonstrate an understanding of how students learn
  • Facilitate self-assessment and peer review activities
  • Provide constructive feedback and assessment support
  • Use multimodal approaches to support content understanding

The course is delivered entirely through Canvas VLE on a self-paced basis, allowing you to work through the materials at a time that suits you.

Course announcements, updates and guidance are provided within Canvas, and the course instructor is available to answer questions via email.

The time required will vary depending on how much time you spend exploring the optional resources and further reading. Most participants spend around 6 hours completing the core content and activities. However, because the course is self-paced, you can work through the materials more quickly if needed.

There is no deadline as such, but we recommend working through the content early in the semester so that you can apply what you learn early on. Note: The course will become read-only on 30th June. You will still be able to access it after this date, but you will no longer be able to engage with the activities.

Each August, CED provides Schools with information about the course, including a link to the registration form. Schools are responsible for sharing this information with new Teaching Assistants and Lab Demonstrators.

After registering, participants will receive a pre-recorded welcome video, which should be watched before starting the course, along with a self-enrolment link to access the course in Canvas. Following this, they work through the content at their own pace. 

Teaching Assistants and Lab Demonstrators should use their staff account to access the course wherever possible. Staff accounts are normally issued by Schools, typically when the TA/Lab Demonstrator has been enrolled in a Canvas TA role through QSIS.

Not sure if you have a staff account? Please check with your School. 

  • If a staff account will be provided, use this to access the course.
  • If a staff account will not be provided, you can use your student Canvas account instead.

If you experience any problems with self-enrolment or accessing the course, please contact ced@qub.ac.uk. 

Yes. Simply email ced@qub.ac.uk and you will be provided with the self-enrol link to the current version of the course. 

There is no formal assessment for this course. However, participation is recorded, as Schools may request confirmation of completion.

To be considered as having completed the course, participants must engage with the required activities, including discussions, surveys, and quizzes.

Schools can email ced@qub.ac.uk to request a spreadsheet of completion status towards the end of the semester. 

Participants who have engaged with course activities may request a certificate of completion for their records.

Instructions on how to request a certificate are provided at the end of the course.