[PSTUM-list] Math TA orientation: PSTUM-list

Hi all, At University of Illinois, we also do practice teaching. As preparation for that, we first have a session on "Basics of Teaching/Preparing a Lecture". Then there is a sample class, followed by a critique. The TA who presents the sample class tries to do some things well and some things rather poorly, so there will be plenty to discuss during the critique. There is also a session on "Running a Discussion Section" - we discuss what a TA can do to make the best use of that time. The day after practice teaching, there are sessions on grading, on "UIUC Students and their Backgrounds," and on "Teaching Policies and Ethics in Teaching." On the fourth day, TAs meet with the instructor of the class to which they have been assigned. We also have a TA Peer Mentoring Program to provide additional support and guidance to new TAs throughout the semester. I'd be very interested to hear what others do. Karen Mortensen Department of Mathematics University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign kmortens(a)illinois.edu ---- Original message ---- >Today's Topics: > > 1. TA Orientation Ideas? (Bruff, Derek O) > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- > >Message: 1 >Date: Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:55:23 -0500 >From: "Bruff, Derek O" &lt;derek.bruff(a)Vanderbilt.Edu&gt; >Subject: [PSTUM-list] TA Orientation Ideas? >To: Preparing and Supporting Teachers of Undergraduate Mathematics > &lt;pstum-list(a)lists.fas.harvard.edu&gt; >Message-ID: > &lt;EB8466F614CE0A44A0DB470E79114356128D0B5465(a)ITS-HCWNEM04.ds.Vanderbilt.edu&gt; > >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > >Hi all, > >It's been a while since this listserv has seen any action, but now's a good a time as any to see what I can kick start! > >With the start of the fall semester right around the corner, here's a question for the list: What have you found effective in preparing your new graduate teaching assistants in math for their TA duties? > >I'll start! As part of our university-wide TA orientation, our new math TAs engage in what we call practice teaching. Each is given the chance to lead a mock class (usually calculus) for 5-7 minutes where the other new TAs and the facilitator of the group act as mock students. Following this, the TA is asked to reflect on the experience (what went well, what didn't) before the other TAs provide feedback. > >You might not think that 5-7 minutes is enough of a teaching demo to be useful, but the feedback portion is typically very productive! The new TAs walk away with a greater understanding of their strengths as a teacher and areas for improvement, as well as a little more confidence going into their first class as a TA. > >Okay, your turn. How do you help your new TAs get ready for the semester? > >Derek > >-- >Derek Bruff, Ph.D. >Assistant Director, Center for Teaching >Senior Lecturer, Department of Mathematics >Vanderbilt University >www.vanderbilt.edu/cft/<http://www.vanderbilt.edu/cft/> >www.derekbruff.com/teachingwithcrs/<http://www.derekbruff.com/teachingwithcrs/> >twitter.com/derekbruff<http://twitter.com/derekbruff> > >