Teaching Large Lecture Courses:

Sample CourseChallenges as New Instructor

Discussion Sections Working with TAs

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Introduction to Clinical Psychology◦ 300 students, 2.5 TAs, 10 weekly sections◦ Exams, writing assignments, participation

Sample Course

Engaging students in lecture

Teaching tough material

Figuring out local norms

Problems/Questions◦ DEO, DGS, DUS, senior colleagues

Challenges as New Instructor

Potential Goals◦ Review lecture material◦ Apply lecture material◦ Discuss lecture material◦ Present new material

Format Change◦ Smaller class size◦ More opportunity for discussion, questions,

interactive exercises

Discussion Sections

Section Materials◦ Prepare written description of section content and

activities◦ Review with TAs, seek feedback b/f and after

section

Miscellaneous◦ Consider evals third of way through semester

https://icon.uiowa.edu/support/onlinehelp/tools/surveys/◦ Attend section of each TA

Discussion Sections

TA Roles and Responsibilities◦ Explicit discussion prior to class◦ TAs are authority figures and part of teaching team◦ Hierarchical relationship with prof◦ Problems: go to DEO, DGS, senior colleague

Weekly Meetings◦ What going well◦ What problems have arisen◦ Discussion of how to teach, how to deal with

problems, how to create materials, how to grade, how to interact with students, etc.

◦ Be available to TAs in btw meetings

Working with TAs

Writing Assignments◦ Difficulty level◦ Assignment content: clarity exceptionally

important◦ Grading criteria: provide detailed, concrete rubric

to students ahead of time◦ Grading consistently across TAs

Review and modify criteria b/f giving to students Meet with TAs after look at 10 papers to discuss

problems Identify who makes final decisions

◦ TA morale

Working with TAs

ICON◦ Announcements, readings, lecture slides, grades, dropbox

(turnitin)

Online Discussions◦ https://icon.uiowa.edu/help/instructors/discussions /◦ https://icon.uiowa.edu/help/instructors/chat /

Quizzes/Practice◦ https://icon.uiowa.edu/help/instructors/quizzes /◦ https://icon.uiowa.edu/help/instructors/selfassessments /

Clickers◦ http://its.uiowa.edu/srs

Capitalizing on Technology