Teaching AssistantsTeaching AssistantsPart APart A

Supporting TeachingSupporting Teaching

IntroductionIntroduction

About meAbout me Reflection on first morning –how is BUE Reflection on first morning –how is BUE

different?different? Discussion of TA roleDiscussion of TA role Managing students’ learning environmentManaging students’ learning environment Effective teaching – tools and Effective teaching – tools and

communicationcommunication

Who I am Who I am

Dr Heather Dalgleish - Dr Heather Dalgleish - HeatherHeather BSc PhD and teaching degree (PGCE)BSc PhD and teaching degree (PGCE) Worked at Loughborough University for 12 Worked at Loughborough University for 12

years with:years with: Undergraduate studentsUndergraduate students Postgraduate researchersPostgraduate researchers Academic staffAcademic staff

First get into groups of about 5…First get into groups of about 5…

……. In your groups, decide:. In your groups, decide: What do you think were the 3 most What do you think were the 3 most

important things from the “How not What” important things from the “How not What” session?session?

What do you think is special about BUE?What do you think is special about BUE?

Role of TARole of TA The role and responsibilities of TAs are to:The role and responsibilities of TAs are to: teach, supervise and assess students, on a regularly monitored teach, supervise and assess students, on a regularly monitored

basis, during practical sessions and tutorials;basis, during practical sessions and tutorials; prepare teaching materials for practical sessions (lab manuals, prepare teaching materials for practical sessions (lab manuals,

power-point presentations) and different types of academic material power-point presentations) and different types of academic material (Xeroxing, distributing);(Xeroxing, distributing);

help technical assistants to order and inspect materials, chemicals, help technical assistants to order and inspect materials, chemicals, glassware and instruments;glassware and instruments;

help technical assistants to set up laboratories for practical help technical assistants to set up laboratories for practical sessions;sessions;

help technical assistants to maintain and apply safety measures help technical assistants to maintain and apply safety measures during practical sessions;during practical sessions;

take a register of student attendance;take a register of student attendance; offer academic help during office hours and be available to answer offer academic help during office hours and be available to answer

students’ questions;students’ questions;

Role of TARole of TA And to:And to:

assist in collecting assignments and other assessment assist in collecting assignments and other assessment submissions;submissions;

help in marking, using model answers provided by the module help in marking, using model answers provided by the module examiner(s). Work marked by TAs is checked by the module examiner(s). Work marked by TAs is checked by the module examiner(s);examiner(s);

take notes and minutes of departmental meetings;take notes and minutes of departmental meetings; help in administrative work, invigilation of examinations and tests help in administrative work, invigilation of examinations and tests

and recording of exam marks;and recording of exam marks; encourage student involvement in various activities;encourage student involvement in various activities; assist in research activities;assist in research activities; to act as substitute teachers (teaching assistants) as required;to act as substitute teachers (teaching assistants) as required; to carry out their own postgraduate studies, namely MScs to carry out their own postgraduate studies, namely MScs

(demonstrators) and PhDs (teaching assistants), for which they (demonstrators) and PhDs (teaching assistants), for which they are allocated time are allocated time

Discussion….Discussion….

How does your role as Teaching Assistant How does your role as Teaching Assistant work in practice?work in practice?

What are the most important skills that you What are the most important skills that you need?need?

Creating an Effective Learning Creating an Effective Learning EnvironmentEnvironment

Before your teaching session consider:Before your teaching session consider: How do you want the room arranged?How do you want the room arranged? What equipment do you have/need?What equipment do you have/need? Double check room and equipment in advanceDouble check room and equipment in advance Who will be setting up and clearing up?Who will be setting up and clearing up? Have you got the right amount of material for the Have you got the right amount of material for the

length of session?length of session? Have a ‘back up’ planHave a ‘back up’ plan Time yourself with a practice runTime yourself with a practice run

Prepare teaching materials: slides Prepare teaching materials: slides and overheadsand overheads

Layout must be clear Layout must be clear and well spacedand well spaced

Limit number of wordsLimit number of words Ensure that your slides Ensure that your slides

and overheadsand overheads can be clearly seen from a can be clearly seen from a

distancedistance

Include:Include: ChartsCharts DiagramsDiagrams PicturesPictures

01020

3040506070

8090

1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr

East

West

North

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 1

Planning teaching materialsPlanning teaching materials

Use clear languageUse clear language And relevant examplesAnd relevant examples

Planning the lesson (1)Planning the lesson (1)

What do your students already know?What do your students already know? How will you follow your topic through from How will you follow your topic through from

introduction to end?introduction to end? How are you going to get all of the students How are you going to get all of the students

involved?involved?

Planning the lesson (2)Planning the lesson (2)

What do you want the students to What do you want the students to achieve?achieve?

What activities are going to promote this?What activities are going to promote this? How are you going to lead those How are you going to lead those

activities?activities? What resources can you draw on?What resources can you draw on?

Lesson Time LineLesson Time Line

TimeTime TimeTime What I What I need to need to dodo

Student Student ActivityActivity

ResourcesResources

9am9am 15 15 minutesminutes

Introduce Introduce myselfmyself

Discussion Discussion about BUEabout BUE

Data projector Data projector and and

whiteboardwhiteboard

9.159.15 15 15 minutesminutes

Teaching Teaching assistant assistant rolerole

Skills Skills discussiondiscussion

9.309.30 30 30 minutesminutes

Planning Planning lesson and lesson and skillsskills

Lesson Lesson timelinetimeline

WhiteboardWhiteboard

10…10… ……....

First skills of teachingFirst skills of teaching

Communication:Communication: Create interestCreate interest Clear, concise languageClear, concise language Repeat key points in different waysRepeat key points in different ways Show you are enthusiasticShow you are enthusiastic Try to keep everyone involvedTry to keep everyone involved

Teaching your students:Teaching your students:

IntroducingIntroducing Explaining Explaining Managing – time/roomManaging – time/room ObservingObserving ListeningListening RespondingResponding QuestioningQuestioning SummarisingSummarising

Effective teaching skillsEffective teaching skills

To hold the students’ interest:To hold the students’ interest: Make eye contactMake eye contact Use positive body languageUse positive body language Ask questionsAsk questions Change the paceChange the pace

Exercise:Exercise:

In PairsIn Pairs

Take turns to explain a topic (3 minutes)Take turns to explain a topic (3 minutes)

And to give constructive feedback (2 minutes)And to give constructive feedback (2 minutes)

Key Points for SummaryKey Points for Summary

ResourcesResources PlanningPlanning PreparationPreparation CommunicationCommunication