sloan c presentation: teaching assistants
TRANSCRIPT
It Takes Two!The Instructor/Teaching Assistant
Partnership in an Online Course
2009 Sloan-C ConferenceOrlando, Florida
Motivation
Other than delivery of course content, what does meeting regularly as a class do? Gives the student and instructor structure. It is a conscious and consistent reminder
about the course and its obligations (assignments, preparation, etc.)
Consciousness of the Course
Instructor Testimonials
“The Teaching Assistant Program helped me concentrate on teaching content, while giving the students a resource for navigating through the administrative hurtles.”
-- Instructor for Introduction to Statistics
Teaching Assistant Testimonials
”I think it great to have more staff interact with students and allow them to feel that sense of community within the college. This program allowed me to share that with the students.”
-- Teaching Assistant for Communications Course
Teaching Assistant Testimonials
“ [The instructor] and I worked well together and had a clear understanding of each other’s role. And, since [the instructor] was relieved of some of her non-teaching duties, it created more time for teaching.”
-- Teaching Assistant for Introduction to Statistics
Hard Data
Retention Grades70
72
74
76
78
80
82
84
86
88
TA-Assisted Online CoursesOther Online Sec-tionsF2F Sections
Structure of Initial Trial
Large Class Size – 44 or higher
Experienced instructors and teaching assistants
Compensation and Loss Teaching Assistants were compensated at TA rate Instructors gave up one credit…willingly!▪ 1st semester Pilot▪ 2nd semester and beyond
Contract with clear expectations, duties, and partnership outlined beforehand
Case Study
Introduction to Statistics Early email with login instructions After one week, check in with those who
are behind During the semester, keeps both
students and instructor on task
Extending the Idea
Student Assistants instead of Teaching Assistants Less cost Work Study or Service Learning could
fund the Student Assistant More of a peer-to-peer relationship with
students Content knowledge means built in tutor
Extending the Idea
Rethink Class Size – 20 to 30? For Administrators: ▪ Slight increases to capacity (5 to 10 beyond current
capacity) without associated cost or headaches.▪ Maintain the quality of the course at a lower cost
For Instructors▪ Guaranteed assistance▪ Takes away the facilitation aspect so you can focus
on being a teacher. For Students▪ More seats, so more opportunity to sign up for the
course
Further Information
You are welcome to access the following website:
http://dlf.csmd.edu/onlinetaproject
On the website, you will find: Presentation Full student, teaching assistant, and instructor
testimonials Samples of Contracts
and much more!
Thank You!
Dr. Sue SuboczDirectorDistance Learning &
Faculty DevelopmentCollege of Southern
Maryland
Donna SperryAssociate ProfessorMathematics, Physics, &
EngineeringCollege of Southern
Maryland