“Study suggests grad students may outperform faculty members in the classroom and may also benefit from time away from their dissertations.” (From Inside Higher Ed.)
All posts tagged college teaching
TAing does make a difference
Posted by TAP on 03/11/2016
https://taprutgers.wordpress.com/2016/03/11/taing-does-make-a-difference/
Nervous about the first day of teaching?
Not surprisingly, many TAs are apprehensive about the first day of class. This is natural–even experienced teachers feel anxious in facing a new class.
Among the common fears expressed by TAs are:
- What if I can’t control the class?
- What if I freeze and am unable to think or speak?
- What if I lose my train of thought?
- What if a student asks me a question I can’t answer?
- What if I give a wrong answer or make a mistake in presentation?
- What if a demonstration or experiment does not work properly?
Your position–the person in front of the classroom–vests you with authority. Use this to bolster your confidence before you step into the room. Also, remember that students are probably feeling a bit anxious about how you will judge them.
Having a lecture outline can help you get back on track if you momentarily freeze or forget your next point. Simply telling the class “I forgot where I was going for second” will not erode your authority.
Taking the time to prepare beforehand will help insure that class goes smoothly. However, accept that sooner or later you probably will make a mistake–it happens. Consider beforehand how to respond to such situations.
If you realize that you’ve given incorrect information, correct it at once. Don’t try to cover it up. Admitting that you were wrong will not cause students to lose respect for you–refusing to admit a mistake may.
Not everything will work out exactly as planned. Be assured, however, that your errors will not seem as disastrous to the students as they do to you.
For more tips, check out our TA Handbook.
Posted by TAP on 08/20/2015
https://taprutgers.wordpress.com/2015/08/20/nervous-about-the-first-day-of-teaching/
“Creativity Becomes an Academic Discipline”
“Creativity Becomes an Academic Discipline”
Check out this recent NYTimes article release on the growing emphasis in promoting undergraduate students’ creativity through college/university curricular offerings. In what ways do the courses that you teach at Rutgers spark students’ critical thinking skills and “out of the box” creativity?
Posted by TAP on 02/07/2014
https://taprutgers.wordpress.com/2014/02/07/creativity-becomes-an-academic-discipline/
Preparing Ph.D. Students for the Art of Teaching
Preparing Ph.D. Students for the Art of Teaching
Check out the following commentary from The Chronicle of Higher Education on the importance of preparing Ph.D. students as experienced and effective teachers.
Posted by TAP on 11/20/2013
https://taprutgers.wordpress.com/2013/11/20/preparing-ph-d-students-for-the-art-of-teaching/
A Taxonomy for Learning, Teaching, and Assessing
A Taxonomy for Learning, Teaching, and Assessing
Check out the following interactive model of learning objectives developed by the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching at Iowa State University. The model is based on a revision of Bloom’s taxonomy of educational objectives that considers how each learning objective is at the intersection of two learning dimensions — knowledge and cognitive process. How do the learning objectives for the Rutgers undergraduate courses that you teach align with this model?
Posted by TAP on 10/15/2013
https://taprutgers.wordpress.com/2013/10/15/a-taxonomy-for-learning-teaching-and-assessing/
Advice for the First Day of Class
Advice for the First Day of Class
With the start of the Fall 2013 semester just two weeks away, this TAP blog post focuses on the first-day teaching experience in the college classroom. Check out this Faculty Focus advice article that highlights how first-day use of the “Today We Will” strategy can set an organized, focused tone for the rest of the course. What other first-day instructional plans and strategies will you use for your fall semester courses?
If you are a new Teaching Assistant, check out the “Your First Day in the Classroom” and other insightful sessions scheduled for the annual Teaching Assistant Orientation hosted by the TA Project. All new Teaching Assistants can register for the upcoming Teaching Assistant Orientation programs at http://tap.rutgers.edu/orientation. See you there!
Posted by TAP on 08/20/2013
https://taprutgers.wordpress.com/2013/08/20/advice-for-the-first-day-of-class/
“I Deserve a Better Grade on This.”
“I Deserve a Better Grade on This.”
As you return your college students’ graded midterm assessments, it is likely that one of your students may claim that he/she “deserve[d] a better grade” on his/her assignment. Check out this Faculty Focus article on how to effectively encourage and navigate what may initially seem to be a difficult teacher-student conversation.
Posted by TAP on 03/12/2013
https://taprutgers.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/i-deserve-a-better-grade-on-this/
TAPTalk 