CIFS 100 - Fresh Start Strategies - Grading Assistant (GA)

About Toronto Metropolitan

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Located in downtown Toronto, Toronto Metropolitan University is a distinctly urban, culturally diverse teaching and research institution offering more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs, distinguished by a strong commitment to excellence in teaching, research and creative activities, to over 45,000 students. Toronto Metropolitan University is known for its culture of entrepreneurship and innovation and is recognized as a city builder, as it continues its growth through award-winning architecture and expansion of its campus.

The Opportunity:

Student Learning Support – or SLS – offers a range of support programming designed to help students develop the skills necessary for academic success and participate fully in their academic programs. All of our programs are free and open to undergraduate, graduate and continuing education students at Toronto Metropolitan University. We offer programming to students through 7 support areas: Academic Accommodation Support, English Language Support, Graduate Student Support, Math Support, Study Skills and Transition Support, Writing Support, and the Test Centre. For more information, please visit:

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The Fresh Start Strategies course is part of Toronto Metropolitan University’s overall support strategy for students in academic jeopardy, and is designed to assist students with Required to Withdraw (RTW) standing in resuming their studies. In this 9-week skills-building hybrid course, comprising both synchronous and asynchronous sessions, students will take control of their learning through self-determined learning strategies and reflective practice.

Moreover, this course challenges students to critically examine their purposeful goals in higher education while reflecting on and re-evaluating their personal learning strengths. In addition, students will engage with a myriad of learning success tools and strategies that will help them set a personal academic achievement goal for the semester, develop a better understanding and identification of their learning styles and patterns, as well as provide them with the foundational skills necessary for student success.

Responsibilities

Teaching Assistant for the Fresh Start Course would be responsible for the following:

• Attending a training session for the role - location/time/date TBD
• Perform Administrative tasks such as emailing tracking, student assignment tracking, and grade tracking
• Attend Weekly team meetings to provide weekly updates to the course supervisor of students with failing grades, students with language difficulties, and any inappropriate behaviour.
• Reviewing course materials and resources from the Fresh Start Course D2L each week;
• Using sound judgment, fairness, and a pre-existing rubric to read and evaluate weekly online discussion contributions from ~40 students, as well as to grade written assessments throughout the semester such as the SMART-R Goal assignment, Mid-term, and the CIFS 100 Capstone Assignment: (Re)Gaining Personal Power Through Reflective Praxis;
• Facilitation of online discussion through posting in the class forums;
• Assigning grades and providing meaningful, timely, and individualized online feedback to students;

Qualifications

Student Learning Support is seeking Teaching Assistants who

• Work well independently;
• Have excellent written communication skills;
• Are at ease with computers and online technology;
• Have previous experience working with students;
• Are people-centred, inclusive, and are driven by people-centred outcomes;
• Have a strong interest in holistic student development principles and theories;
• Are familiar with Toronto Metropolitan University student services;
• Enrolled in: 1st year Masters, 2nd year Masters

Please Note: Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Application Documents: (Please combine the following into one document before uploading):

• A cover letter indicating your interest in working as a Fresh Start Teaching Assistant;
• A resume

Salary & Compensation

Breakdown of Contract Hours:

90.00 Hours/Term Assisting in grading and facilitation, with the expectation of 10 hours weekly over 9 weeks.

*Hours are flexible and may vary somewhat based on student enrollment numbers, and student needs throughout the semester. This will be determined by the beginning of the contract. Work is done remotely.

Actual hours may vary at offer time dependent on qualifications and determined rate of pay. CUPE-3 employees can work up to a maximum of 130 hours per semester or 390 hours per academic year. Employees shall not be guaranteed work and when not on assignment they shall not receive any pay or payment in lieu of benefits.

Number of Registered Students

Current Enrolment Numbers: 91 students

Student Marking: 30 students