Shandy,
c) Videotaping the TA's teaching and having the
TA watch the
tape with someone - Almost never. The self-protective
response is very difficult to negotiate (particularly for me
when working with male TAs). However, we are developing
IRB-released pieces of video of people teaching to use for
case study. As mentioned earlier on this list, a national
group of us are writing a CCLI grant proposal to gather such
video and create accompanying materials (pre-viewing
questions, writing prompts, discussion prompts) for eventual
national dissemination.
Each of the teaching centers where I've worked offered confidential
videotape consultation services to faculty and TAs. Watching a
videotape of one's teaching with a neutral third party (such as a
teaching center consultant) can be an effective way of reflecting on
one's teaching that one often can't do in the "heat of the moment,"
so
to speak, in the classroom. It's particularly effective in math classes
at helping teachers improve their presentation and boardwork skills,
which are often difficulties for very novice teachers. I've found that
graduate students are typically more willing to be videotaped than more
experienced faculty.
Your video project sounds very interesting. I hope your proposal is
funded--I can think of many uses for such a collection.
Derek
--
Derek Bruff, Ph.D.
Assistant Director, Vanderbilt Center for Teaching
116 Calhoun Hall / Box 351537, Station B
Nashville, TN 37235
615-322-7290 /
www.vanderbilt.edu/cft/