Graduate Student Instructors: Catalysts for Learning

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Graduate Student Instructors Catalysts for
Learning
William A. Ladusaw Professor of Linguistics
Vice Provost/Dean of Undergraduate Education
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Learning and Teaching
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Teaching facilitates Learning

• Knowledge transfer(know that)
• Mentor/Coach (know how)
• Individual performance
• Individual skill
• Understanding people

• Change
• Proficiency
• Knowing more
• Able to do more
• Self-sustaining

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Educational Effectiveness

• What do we want our students to learn?
• Why do we want them to learn that?
• How can we tell if they are learning it?
• How can we improve their success?
• Repeat above steps thoughtfully.

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From Sage on the StageTo Guide by the Side
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Joining the Faculty(A learning community)


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Lieutenant Instructor
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Learning Community

• What the students learn
• What you learn
• What the faculty member learns

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Ideally, everyone learns

• The class members achieve your objectives for
  their learning.
• You learn about their learning process and the
  effectiveness of your strategy and tactics.
• You learn about what the faculty member is trying
  to do (about teaching).
• The faculty member learns about the students and
  is renewed by your questions.

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My (Idealist) Advice

• Ask questions of the facultyWhat are we trying
  to do? Why that? How?
• Observe the students in the classAs individuals
  in a context, not as a mass of students.
• Observe yourselfHow are you responding?What are
  you learning (that, and to do)?

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Staying a Catalyst
Catalyst A substance that modifies and
especially increases the rate of a reaction
without being consumed in the process.
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My (Realist) Advice

• Negotiate an effective relationship with the
  faculty member.
• Negotiate an effective relationship with the
  class members.
• Establish a balance between the rewards you
  derive from the experience and your other goals,
  expectations, and obligations.

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Graduate Student Instructors

• Catalysts for Learning