Strategies for Teaching Assistant and International Teaching Assistant Development

Written for anyone who works with graduate students to support their teaching efforts in American research universities, this book draws on the extensive experience of professional educators who represent a variety of programs throughout the United States. They understand the common constraints of many TA development classes, workshops, and programs, as well as the need for motivating and sophisticated techniques that are, at the same time, practical and focused. Their contributions to this book have proven to be effective in developing the sophisticated communication skills required by TAs across the disciplines.

About the Authors xi Foreword xxiii Preface xxv Acknowledgments xxvii Part I TA Development 1. Getting Started 3 Acknowledging Teaching Fears: The Three-Minute Free Response 4 Janet Rankin An Approach to Successful Collaborative Learning 6 Nancy C. McClure Blended Learning: Focusing on Effective Teaching Through Online Discussions and Concept Mapping 8 Gabriele Bauer Diversity in the Classroom: Working Effectively with Undergraduate ESL Students 11 Shawna Shapiro Engaging Students in Active Learning 16 Shawna Shapiro Identity and Authority in the Classroom: An Exercise for New TAs 21 Mary C. Wright Planning and Facilitating Discussion 24 Phillip M. Edwards, Stacy Grooters, Margaret Lawrence Problems, Pitfalls, and Surprises in Teaching: Mini Cases 28 Lori Breslow, J. Mark Schuster Responding to Student Writing 35 Stacy Grooters, Jennie Dorman Stand and Deliver: Developing Impromptu Speaking Skills 39 Jane Dunphy A TA Orientation Plenary Session on University Policies and Resources for Teaching 44 Derek Bruff Teaching in Computer Classrooms 48 Shaun K. Kane, Joe Hannah, Phillip M. Edwards, Jennie Dorman Teaching in Lab Settings 52 Jennie Dorman, Michelle Smith, Sara O’Brien, Karen Freisem 2. Advanced Skills 57 Classroom Management Skills: Expanding Your Repertoire 58 Lee Warren Determining Appropriate Course Goals and Pacing: An Exercise for Advanced TAs 60 Allyson Polsky McCabe, Lu Zhang Developing Effective Consulting Skills 62 Michele Marincovich, Marcelo Clerici-Arias, Mariatte Denman, Robyn Wright Dunbar Interdisciplinary Soapbox 68 Jill Bible, Robyn Wright Dunbar Introduction to Online Teaching and Learning: Using Asynchronous Discussions Effectively 70 Mary C. Wright Reaction and Response: Group Problem Solving and Effective Feedback 74 Jane Dunphy Teaching Practice: Emphasis on Active Learning 76 Tershia Pinder 3. Professional Development 81 ASPECTS: Advancing Students’ Professional Excellence with Certificates in Teaching Series 82 Mark Decker Mock Search Committee: Introduction to the Teaching Philosophy 88 Judith Gibber Teaching Portfolio Overview: Peer and Whole Group Discussion 91 Gabriele Bauer Part II ITA Development 4. Culture 97 Cultural Adjustments 98 Barbara Gourlay Diversity Awareness for ITAs 101 Doris Yaffe Shiffman High-Context Versus Low-Context Culture: Case Studies 103 Christine Liptak, Colleen Meyers, Kyoung-Ah Nam, Elena Stetsenko The High School Visit 111 Catherine Ross Interviews: Surveying College Undergraduates Who Attended High School in the United States 113 Margo Sampson, Vel Chesser, Stacey Lane Tice 5. Pedagogy 117 American Teaching Performance 118 Pamela Pollock Movie-Based Activities for the ITA Course 120 Theresa L. Pettit Pedagogical Uses of Critical Incidents Videos for ITAs 126 Stacey Lane Tice, Margo Sampson, Vel Chesser Practice Identifying and Teaching to a Variety of Learning Styles 128 Anne Halbert Preparing the ITA for Office Hours 132 Elizabeth Wittner 6. Language 135 Departmental Introduction Speech 136 Kimberly Kenyon Developing Oral Communication Skills 139 Margaret Lawrence Discovering and Teaching the Vocabulary of the Academic Communities 142 Doris Yaffe Shiffman Editorial Jigsaw 144 Barbara Gourlay Fielding Questions: The IgNobel Prizes 146 Barbara Thompson The Fine Art of Q&A 148 Barbara Gourlay The Greek Alphabet: Speaking in Symbols 150 Barbara Gourlay “International Teaching Assistant of the Year” Speech 153 Kimberly Kenyon Mimicking American TA Discourse 156 Janet Goodwin Practicing Communication Strategies 156 Doris Yaffe Shiffman Presentation Summaries—Take Two! 161 Barbara Thompson Working with Authentic TA Discourse 163 Janet Goodwin Resources 167 Index 173