Incorporating TAs/CAs into Instruction: The Case of Stat 100 - The Art of Teaching Luncthime Seminar Series

One important aspect of a course that affects students' learning is their relationship with their instructor. How supported students feel, how much they see the instructor as a role model to mimic, and how comfortable they are asking questions of their instructor are all strongly correlated with performance and achievement.

As our class sizes become ever increasingly larger, a single instructor's ability to form a deep and meaningful relationship with all students becomes infeasible if not impossible. Enter the TA/CA. Beyond simply grading assignments or holding discussion sections or office hours, thoughtful incorporation of TAs/CAs into the classroom can help reinforce a supporting learning environment.

In Stat 100, we have CAs in class, presenting worked examples on stage, as well as answering students' questions. Data suggests that students' relationships with Stat 100 CAs are far more positive than their relationships with CAs in other similar courses.

In this podcast, we share our strategy, and the structure and training that supports our pedagogy.