Teaching Assistant and Teaching Fellow Training

Office for Graduate Education | Harvard Medical School

This site hosts onboarding and training for new Teaching Assistants and Teaching Fellows supporting Graduate Education courses at Harvard Medical School. New TA/TFs should complete the training expectations established by their Course Director and/or program, including any required live or asynchronous training available through this site. Returning TA/TFs are also welcome to attend live training sessions or review asynchronous modules as refreshers.

Get Started

Self-Enroll in the Teaching Fellows and Assistant's Training Site

Self-Enroll in this site to ensure ongoing access via your Canvas dashboard and ability to participate in discussion boards required for asynchronous training completion.

Live TA/TF Training Module

Find upcoming training dates (every August and January), registration details, and materials to complete before attending live training.

Asynchronous TA/TF Training Modules

Review training materials and practical guidance for TA/TFs hired outside the standard August and January onboarding windows.

Next Steps: Teaching Essentials & Support Resources

For ongoing teaching and learning guidance, TA/TFs should also self-enroll in the Teaching Essentials site. Teaching Essentials is the primary resource hub for HMS Graduate Education teaching and learning resources, including a Start Here: Essentials for Faculty, TFs, & TAs module. TA/TFs are especially encouraged to review the Teaching Fellows and Assistants’ Course Facilitation Checklist, along with guidance on establishing effective teaching teams, course facilitation, assessment and feedback, Canvas, educational technology, AI in teaching, and student support resources.

Self-Enroll in the Teaching Essentials Site

Self-enroll in the TA/TF Canvas Sandbox Course to practice using Canvas tools in a non-course environment before working in a live course site. Use the sandbox to experiment with editing pages, building modules, creating assignments and quizzes, managing discussions, and exploring Canvas teaching tools.

Access the TA/TF Canvas Sandbox Course

Consultation Support

TA/TFs have access to consultations and email from support teams!

Sign up for Education Innovation Consultations

Meet with the OGE Education Innovation and Scholarship team for support with teaching strategies, course activities, assessment, feedback, student engagement, and education in the age of AI or contact Ed_Innovation@hms.harvard.edu.

Sign up for Educational Technology Consultations

Meet with the Teaching and Learning Technology team for help with Canvas, Panopto, Zoom, Poll Everywhere, and other teaching technologies, or contact tlt@hms.harvard.edu.