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Learning Forward:
Support for Your Teaching as a Lecturer Student Assistant (LSA)
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Hello L&S LSAs!
Graduate student Lecturers, or LSAs, play an essential role in delivering a wide variety of courses to L&S students. For many of you, this may be your first time as instructor of record for your own course. Congratulations! Embarking on teaching independently for the first time can be both exciting and daunting. Even for seasoned instructors, we know that being both a graduate student and a Lecturer can come with unique challenges and opportunities. As you move through this semester, remember that there are many resources and programs to support you. We highlight some great options below.
Best wishes for a great semester!
Lynne Prost
Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Academic Affairs
College of Letters & Science
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Resources & Programs to support you throughout the semester:
- TA Networks. This is a space for community-building, resource-sharing, and conversation around the following topics: Disabled TAs, Discussion Section TAs, International TAs, Lab TAs, Language TAs, Office Hour TAs, and TAs of Color. All TAs and LSAs are invited to attend any Networks!
- Web Guide for TAs. Get help navigating essential trainings, finding professional development opportunities, and receiving support with situations you may encounter while teaching.
- Tackle a Course Design Challenge: Connect with an L&S Instructional Design Collaborative consultant to get an outside perspective on classroom challenges.
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"Learning Student Names" with Levi Sherman
Levi Sherman is an LSA for ART HIST 403/600 and serves L&S as a Lead Teaching Mentor
"I try to learn my students’ names quickly, but it’s never easy. Last semester, I realized it was my fear of getting a name wrong that slowed down the process — the best way (for me) to learn names is just to use them in class. So, instead of poring over the photo roster, I decided to model that it’s okay to ask — for names and, occasionally, forgiveness. Students seemed to follow my lead and patiently introduced themselves to one another three or four (or more) weeks into the semester. And I learned faster than usual."
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How can you get to know your students? Research shows small actions like learning student names and facilitating icebreakers can have a big impact. Start with these simple steps.
Resources to learn more:
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As an instructor of record, you are now more likely than when you were a TA to receive accommodation requests. Whether you are a brand new LSA or returning LSA, the McBurney Disability Resource Center has resources for instructors which you should take some time to review.
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50+ TAs and LSAs from departments and programs across campus attended the L&S Returning TA Workshop on August 28. Attendees met new colleagues, connected in small group workshops, and collaboratively worked through advanced teaching challenges. For more information, visit L&S Returning TA Workshop.
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