GUIA Sessions

Sessions Offered

The Graduate/Undergraduate Instructor Academy (GUIA) is designed to assist graduate adjunct instructors, instructional assistants, graduate assistants, lab instructors, teaching assistants, tutors, mentors, supplemental instructors, and more with instructional training and resources for the betterment of student success.

Every fall and spring, students, faculty, and staff can expect a variety of sessions to be available for undergraduate and graduate professional development to aid in navigating the legal, professional, and pedagogical obligations necessary to be a successful student instructor. Below is a preview of the types of sessions one can expect at each GUIA. Please note: sessions change and adapt each semester to meet the particular needs of our student instructors. If you have an idea for a future session you would like to see included, please email guia@shsu.edu for more information.

• FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)

  Description

  A brief overview of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) will be presented. Participants will analyze case studies, discuss examples, and share best practices for a university setting. Students will be encouraged to ask questions and discuss the practical application of this federal law.

  Objectives

  • Review FERPA
  • Analyze its application and use within a university setting
  • Engage in a discussion of practical applications to fulfill legal and professional obligations
• Title IX

  Description

  Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational institutions and includes sexual harassment and sexual assault. This session will cover topics such as: What is Title IX? Defining sexual harassment/sexual misconduct, how and where to report issues related to Title IX, Statistics on sexual violence, the university’s responsibilities, and what happens after you report a Title IX issue?

  Objectives

  • Students participating in this session will evaluate case studies.
• CRLA and Academic Success Center Peer Educator Trainings

  Description

  CRLA (College Reading and Learning Association) is a group of student-oriented professionals active in the fields of reading, learning assistance, developmental education, tutoring, and peer educating at the college/adult level. CRLA is inherently diverse in membership. CRLA’s most vital function and overall purpose is to provide a forum for the interchange of ideas, methods, and information to improve student learning and to facilitate the professional growth of its members.

  Objectives

  The ASC is certified through CRLA's International Tutor Training Program Certification (ITTPC) and is designed to provide training sessions to satisfy the requirements for:

  • Level 1 ITTPC training topics, such as tutoring definition and responsibilities, tutoring techniques, and tutoring communication skills
  • Level 2 ITTPC training topics, such as cultural awareness, assessing student behaviors, and brain dominance learning
  • Level 3 ITTPC training topics, such as the role of learning centers in higher educastion, group management skills, and self-regulated learning
• Blackboard Topics

  Description

  This session will relay introductory tips and tricks for the use of the BB Grade Center and communication features. This session is intended for first time TAs, lab instructors, and folks assisting instruction. Additional sessions are for participants that have entered grades for students and will be using BlackBoard learning management system as an instructor, teaching assistant, or leading a fully online course/lab. Participants can ask questions and guide the discussion. This session will be more informal.

  Objectives

  • Establish due dates and use date management tools
  • Review with students how to use To Do module notifications and the BB Calendar
  • Illustrate how students can use their My Grades page
  • Recall the advantages of using inline grading for discussions and other BB Tools
  • identify ways to modify 'views' to increase productivity (locking, hiding, adding columns)
  • Blogs, Wikis, Discussion boards, Journals
  • Creating release, closing, and due dates
  • Insertion of videos, images, and hyperlinks
  • Tests building, Grade Center
• Classroom Management Round-table

  Description

  The purpose of this session is to provide instructors with group and individual behavior management and instructional procedures that can be used in a variety of classroom settings including face to face, online, and lab activities. Participants will gain knowledge and skill in setting and managing the emotional tone of a classroom, managing the psycho-social atmosphere of the classroom and individual students, and managing motivation of students to succeed in learning academic content.

• Haven Training (101 and 102, rotated)

  Description

  Become a Bearkat Ally! This is part one of a two-part training to help you become a better ally to the LGBTQ+ community and create a more inclusive campus. Topics covered include basic vocabulary and pronouns, gender and sexuality, power and privilege, risks and statistics associated with the community, current laws that impact LGBTQ+ people, and qualities of a good ally.

  Options

  • HAVEN 101 is typically offered in the Spring
  • HAVEN 102 is typically offered in the Fall