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What is Different About TA Roles in an Active Learning Classroom?
What is Different About TA Roles in an Active Learning Classroom?
TAs in an active learning classroom have similar responsibilities to TAs in traditional classrooms. However, they have additional considerations and responsibilities due to the environment and style of an active learning classroom. When serving as a TA in an active learning class, treat every opportunity as a learning experience for improving critical communication and leadership skills for use in the future.
Interaction with Students
Interaction with Students
Problem solving
Take initiative
Classroom Management
Classroom Management
Facilitate group work
Use of technology
Monitoring students’ activities
Interaction with Students
Interaction with Students
In active learning class, TAs interact with students by:
Help students solve problems that they encounter
Answer students’ questions more quickly in class than doing so remotely
Assist communications between students and instructors
Walk around the class to assist students more easily than standing in one place
Approach students instead of waiting for students to come for help
As such, TAs need effective communication skills.
Additionally, they need to be friendly and patient when answering questions so that they can act as an effective and approachable resource and bridge between the instructor and the students.
Classroom Management
Classroom Management
TAs help manage the class by:
Assisting students with team project and/or group assignments during class
Demonstrating examples of course content using appropriate technologies, such as projectors, smart board, live programming, and interface walkthroughs, etc.
Monitoring students' activities, work progress, and facilitating communications within teams in class
Bridging communications and interactions between instructors and students
Material Creation and Testing
Material Creation and Testing
Content and material creations
Monitoring exams
Review
Grading
Grading
Plagiarism detection
Group work
Material Creation and Testing
Material Creation and Testing
Just like in traditional courses, TAs in active learning classes may also be responsible for creating class materials. However, these materials need to be customized for the structure of an active learning classroom. TAs may be asked to:
Help instructors make course materials: PowerPoint presentations, exam and homework questions, course mappings, and rubrics, etc.
Assist instructors to monitor exams and quizzes
Work through questions with students--improve understanding of topics together
Grading
Grading
Group work is a large part of active learning classrooms and students may ask their group members for help when stuck on assignments. When grading individual assignments, monitor students' work to detect any potential plagiarism.
The limited lecture time in class in active learning classrooms means students ask questions on concepts they truly don't understand. Providing detailed feedback to students' on assignments is important to help them understand which concepts they need to seek further clarification on in class or during office hours.
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