Spring Break
Turning TAs Into Terrrific Aids
Krista Sheridan
Issue date: 10/11/06 Section: News
Many universities around the United States are in the process of remodeling their teaching system to create terrific Teacher's Aides (TAs) rather than terrified assistants.
In fact, big-name universities such as Washington, Colorado and Michigan, "Have built up significant centers staffed with experts to train and mentor teaching assistants," according to a report by the Associated Press.
Where does UConn stand in their teaching methods for TAs? Public speaking is not easy, whether it is teaching or leading a discussion in front of 10 or 50 students. TAs must display confidence when teaching classes.
"I think a good TA is well-organized," said Jeremy Pressman, a political science professor. "He [or] she clarifies and deepens what students learn from lecture and from readings."
Showing confidence makes the students realize the TA knows what he [or] she is talking about and should be respected.
Charis Egland, a first-year graduate student and TA, supervises two discussion groups a week for both an introduction to political science course and a comparative politics class. Duties include grading homework for her 43 students and hosting office hours to provide assistance to any of her students.
Egland was awarded her position after going through a careful, competitive application process, which was "based on merit and/or recommendations," she said.
Egland said her training included a three-day orientation where she was taught to deal with situations in class such as sexual harassment and academic misconduct.
UConn's TA orientation also included sessions that laid out the "principles of effective teaching and classsroom management," according to Egland. Overall, she feels that UConn's TA training method is ahead of the game and efficient.
"[Egland] is effective," said Jamie Lai, a 1st-semester political science major. "She concentrates on asking us questions, which leaves us to think for ourselves. It's easier to participate [in discussion than in the lecture] because it's a smaller class so you can hear other people's views."
"My confidence level in the classroom is based on the overall preparedness of the students," Egland said. "I think it is important within the first couple of weeks to make the students feel comfortable with me and in the discussion environment to help encourage participation in the future."
UConn's TA Program Web site says they offer services, workshops and orientations for graduate teaching assistants.
This is a program that teaches TAs how to effectively get their message through to their students. It offers help building syllabi, developing grading techniques and gives them information on how to get the students involved during a discussion.
Training TAs will not only help students learn in a more concentrated environment, but also will expand the possibilities for students here at UConn.
In fact, big-name universities such as Washington, Colorado and Michigan, "Have built up significant centers staffed with experts to train and mentor teaching assistants," according to a report by the Associated Press.
Where does UConn stand in their teaching methods for TAs? Public speaking is not easy, whether it is teaching or leading a discussion in front of 10 or 50 students. TAs must display confidence when teaching classes.
"I think a good TA is well-organized," said Jeremy Pressman, a political science professor. "He [or] she clarifies and deepens what students learn from lecture and from readings."
Showing confidence makes the students realize the TA knows what he [or] she is talking about and should be respected.
Charis Egland, a first-year graduate student and TA, supervises two discussion groups a week for both an introduction to political science course and a comparative politics class. Duties include grading homework for her 43 students and hosting office hours to provide assistance to any of her students.
Egland was awarded her position after going through a careful, competitive application process, which was "based on merit and/or recommendations," she said.
Egland said her training included a three-day orientation where she was taught to deal with situations in class such as sexual harassment and academic misconduct.
UConn's TA orientation also included sessions that laid out the "principles of effective teaching and classsroom management," according to Egland. Overall, she feels that UConn's TA training method is ahead of the game and efficient.
"[Egland] is effective," said Jamie Lai, a 1st-semester political science major. "She concentrates on asking us questions, which leaves us to think for ourselves. It's easier to participate [in discussion than in the lecture] because it's a smaller class so you can hear other people's views."
"My confidence level in the classroom is based on the overall preparedness of the students," Egland said. "I think it is important within the first couple of weeks to make the students feel comfortable with me and in the discussion environment to help encourage participation in the future."
UConn's TA Program Web site says they offer services, workshops and orientations for graduate teaching assistants.
This is a program that teaches TAs how to effectively get their message through to their students. It offers help building syllabi, developing grading techniques and gives them information on how to get the students involved during a discussion.
Training TAs will not only help students learn in a more concentrated environment, but also will expand the possibilities for students here at UConn.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Kaler Whitehead
posted 6/20/09 @ 1:24 PM EST
Good information. Thanks for the post.
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