Open Access18: THE TA CONSULTANT PROGRAM
Author(s) -
Huntzinger Mikaela,
McPherron Paul,
Rajagopal Madhumitha
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
to improve the academy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2334-4822
DOI - 10.1002/j.2334-4822.2011.tb00635.x
Subject(s) - medical education , graduate students , discipline , graduate education , service (business) , professional development , pedagogy , psychology , engineering ethics , engineering , sociology , medicine , business , social science , marketing
Graduate students, particularly at research‐oriented universities, are well prepared for future research careers, but they often lack knowledge or training in other aspects of academic life. A teaching assistant consultant program was created to improve the professional development opportunities for campus teaching assistants and provide a community of practice in which graduate students pursue teaching interests, cross‐disciplinary collaboration, and service. We offer recommendations for creating similar programs and conclude by recommending the development of communities of practice to create opportunities for graduate students to improve their teaching skills.