UTAs spend approximately 8-10 hours per week on the course for which they are … more about What Do UTAs Do?
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How to Work with UTAs
How can I orient my UTAs to "the other side"? How can I help my UTAs find … more about How to Work with UTAs
For Current Instructors
If you are working with UTAs this semester, I encourage you to do the … more about For Current Instructors
Blog Posts
On Discussions
By admin
This past week’s focus in 388V has been on facilitating effective discussions, both in-person and online. Your UTAs read and watched the following: Napell’s Six Common Non-facilitating Behaviors. Napell’s 1976 article could have been written yesterday. In it, she explains why students fall silent in the face of ineffective questioning strategies, including “rapid rewards,” insufficient […]
UTA Feedback to Students
By admin
We’ve started group presentations in 388V, which means groups of UTAs are facilitating the online discussion and leading the in-person seminar each week. Group topics range from facilitating peer review to creating inclusive classrooms to teaching professional writing and more. Last week in my section, the topic was Responding to Student Writing.The group chose an […]
Goals and expectations
By admin
I hope you’re settling into the semester well! Justin and I are having a great time with your UTAs in our respective sections of 388V. Both of the in-person seminars for first-semester UTAs are large: I have 22 in my section, and Justin has 17. We also have 12 returning UTAs between us, which makes […]
Preparing for Day 1
By admin
The first day of classes is mere days away! Here’s what we’re doing to prepare your UTAs in 388V—and what you can do to help them, too. Helping UTAs get oriented Many of our incoming UTAs are likely experiencing a lot of anxiety as they prepare for their new role(s). UTAs in English wear many […]
Welcome New Instructors!
By admin
Happy 2019, and welcome to the UTA Program! This post follows up on several recent conversations I’ve had with new instructors on the goals of the UTA Program and how we meet them. Goals of the UTA Program The UTA Program is designed to increase student success in English classes. UTAs halve the student-to-teacher ratio, […]