About CTD

CTD Home > About CTD

The Center for Teaching Development

The Center for Teaching Development (CTD) is a service program devoted to the improvement of all aspects of teaching. CTD is a reflection of the university's commitment to educational excellence, and provides a central facility to assist all instructors in the continued improvement of teaching and learning. CTD includes the Teaching Assistant Development Program, the International Teaching Assistant Language Program and a Faculty Instructional Services Center.

The Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) has responsibility for development of policy relating to TA matters and overseeing implementation of these policies. The Director of the campus-wide Center for Teaching Development reports to the Dean. The Center works closely with academic departments to enhance the effectiveness of undergraduate education. Each year CTD provides grants to be used for the improvement of departmental-based training programs. Grants have been awarded to fund senior teaching assistants, TA excellence awards, TA mentor stipends, and training workshop expenses.

Departmental Resources

In addition to CTD staff, there are departmental personnel involved in TA training. Each department has a faculty advisor in charge of training, and many departments have senior teaching assistants. These people are responsible for establishing departmental training requirements and coordinating activities between the CTD and the department. They also serve as resources for TAs' questions and concerns.

TA Consultants

CTD provides an extensive training program for new TA consultants. In addition to pedagogical training, the program covers the mission and goals of the center and its role in the university. Policies and procedures for observations and consultations are detailed in Guidelines for Teaching Consultants*. While this manual is specific to the training program at UCSD, it can be adapted by other universities.

CTD has developed a program called TrainTrak that tracks the client TA training process from initial contact to final analysis and summary of questionnaires. Weekly reports are generated and then reviewed to ensure that the program is "on track" in meeting its target goals. For further information about this program, contact tatrain@ucsd.edu.

Click here for information on how to apply to be a TA consultant.

*Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Staff Directory

Rosalind Streichler, Ph.D., is the Director of CTD and oversees campuswide TA training and faculty development. Dr. Streichler has been at UCSD since 1990. Prior to coming to UCSD, Streichler taught graduate courses in curriculum and instruction and worked with students and faculty/residents in medical schools specializing in issues of teaching and learning. She has consulted on these issues at medical schools on the mainland and in Puerto Rico. Her major teaching and research interests deal with 1) cognitive strategies or how people process information, and 2) competencies expected of effective college teachers.

Martha Stacklin, B.A., is the coordinator of the ITALP. Martha is a UCSD graduate, with a B.A. in Linguistics, and is proficient in several languages. In addition to teaching classes in English as a second language, she is a cross-cultural consultant, provides sexual harassment and diversity training, and conducts workshops on effective public speaking.

The Program Representative for CTD coordinates all CTD programs including the TA consultation services, workshops, and coordination with departments, manages the office and assists with publications.

Contact Us

Stop in to the Center for Teaching Development any time. We are located on the third floor of Center Hall in room 307. You can reach CTD by phone at (858) 822-1992, or by e-mail at ctd@ucsd.edu. Alternately, you can use the form below to send us a message.