Training Teaching Assistants to Motivate Students
Purpose of the Project
The purpose of our NSF IUSE grant project (# 2315574), titled Training Computer Science Teaching Assistants to Motivate Students, is to use evidence-based practices to redesign, implement, and assess a training program designed explicitly for computer science (CS) Teaching Assistants (TAs) to help them use inclusive teaching practices in ways that foster a positive motivational climate. One of the primary outcomes of the CS TA Training project has been the development of training materials that have been used in the CS department at Virginia Tech and that can be used in CS departments at other institutions.
This project is part of a larger project to understand how TAs and instructors can use the MUSIC Model of Motivation strategies to create a positive motivational climate in computer science courses.
Information about the Project
— Video overview (2 minutes)
— Presentation describing the project by Margaret Ellis (26 minutes)
— Blog article about the project and its outcomes
Teaching TAs About Student Motivation
We teach TAs 4 ideas about how to apply the MUSIC Model of Motivation to support students in ways that create a positive motivational climate to engage students.
— The lesson plans for the 7 modules that we created are included in this Workshop Handbook that has associated PowerPoint slides. The topics for the 7 modules are (1) Overview of the Big Ideas and MUSIC Model; (2) Scaffolding, Rubber Ducking, and Self-Regulated Learning; (3) Active Listening & Mirroring; (4) Self-Efficacy; (5) Growth Mindset; (6) Oral and Written Feedback; and (7) Caring and Belonging.
— This handout provides TAs with examples of Phrases to Promote a Positive Motivational Climate
Providing Feedback to TAs
We collect feedback from students and faculty using forms similar to those linked below. Then, we share this feedback with the TAs. We also conduct a TA self-assessment in which they assess their own behaviors. We often summarize the student and faculty feedback instead of providing the raw feedback directly to the TAs. Here are some examples of the surveys and forms we use:
— Form used to collect self-assessment from TAs: TA Self-Assessment Check-In
— Survey used to collect feedback from students: Student Feedback for TAs
— Form used to collect feedback from faculty: Faculty Feedback to TAs
TA Training Leaders at Virginia Tech
From left to right: Hande Fenerci (PhD student), Brett Jones (Faculty), & Margaret Ellis (Faculty)
More Information
More information about related projects can be found here:
— Motivating Students in Computer Science
Funding
Funding for this project was provided by the National Science Foundation.