Abstract Detail

Teaching Section

Schussler, Elisabeth [1], Miller, Kristen [2], Dalrymple, Sarah [3], Ferzli, Miriam [4], Hainaj, Rosa [5], Kendall, K. Denise [6], Luft, Julie [7], Marbach-Ad, Gili [8], Musante, Susan [9], Tanner, Kimberly [10], Wischusen, E. WIlliam [11], Auerbach, Anna Jo [12].

Biology Teaching Assistant Project (BioTAP): Refining Professional Development for Innovative Teaching.

Graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) provide much of the small-class instruction (labs and discussions) for large introductory courses at many universities. Given this pivotal role in courses critical to student retention, and the fact that many of these GTAs will be the faculty of tomorrow, promoting the instructional abilities of GTAs should be a national priority. In particular, providing professional development that supports innovative pedagogies could further instructional reform at universities. However, the reality of research-focused graduate programs often interferes with the development of GTA teaching identities. The NSF-funded Research Coordination Network Incubator "BioTAP" addresses the challenge of GTA professional development in the context of biology graduate programs. The goal of BioTAP is to form a network of individuals who will identify the innovative instructional skills needed by GTAs, and suggest efficient and effective models for GTA professional development. Our poster will share the preliminary work toward these goals, including potential domains of innovative instructional skills to enhance, and how weekly lab meetings may be modified to incorporate ongoing innovative professional development. Our poster also serves as an invitation to others to join the BioTAP network to enhance GTA professional development.

Broader Impacts:

1 - University of Tennessee, Department of Ecology And Evolutionary Biology, 569 Dabney Hall, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
2 - University of Georgia, Division of Biological Sciences, 400 Biological Sciences Building, Athens, GA, 30602-2607, USA
3 - University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Division of Biology, 402 Hesler, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
4 - North Carolina State University, Department of Biology, 134 David Clark Labs, CB 7617, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7617, USA
5 - Lorain County Community College, Division of Science and Mathematics , 1005 N Abbe Rd., Elyria, OH, 44035, USA
6 - University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 569 Dabney Hall, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
7 - University of Georgia, Department of Mathematics and Science Education, 212 Aderhold Hall, Athens, GA, 30602-7124, USA
8 - University of Maryland, College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences, 1328 Symons Hall, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
9 - American Institute of Biological Sciences, Education, 1900 Campus Commons Drive, Suite 200, Reston, VA, 20191, USA
10 - San Francisco State University, Department of Biology, Hensill Hall, Room 538, 1600 Holloway Ave. , San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA
11 - Louisiana State University, Department of Biological Sciences, 202 Life Sciences Building, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA
12 - University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 569 Dabney Hall, Knoxville, TN, 37919, USA

Keywords:
teaching assistant
professional development
innovative instruction
coordination network.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Grand Salon A - D/Riverside Hilton
Date: Monday, July 29th, 2013
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PTE004
Abstract ID:400
Candidate for Awards:None