TA TRAINING

GROUP ACTIVITY:

Lab manual handout: What would you do to improve this manual? (5 minutes)

ASSIGNMENT:

Bring one improvement to Chase Boone this semester.

Get some inspiration by looking at previous shop improvements and projects shared in training.

Our GOAL is to provide bountiful opportunities for students to learn and practice their knowledge of Physics concepts through directness. And our HOPE is that the knowledge they gain can be used in the real world and used to make our world a better place.

ASSIGNMENT:

Tell this to your students on the first day!

If learning is a process we can think about it like any other process: methods, machines, materials, and man (known as the 4 Ms) that produce value or waste!

GROUP ACTIVITY:

Take 1 minute to think back over your educational experience. What were your best, most fun, most exciting experiences?

Volunteers to share?

Now, what was your worst experience?

Venn diagram: What were the teachers doing in the good and bad experiences? What were the qualities they exhibited? What was their method of teaching and interaction?

HOW DO WE HELP THE PROCESS?

Let's state the bad news first: our educational system has defaulted to the easiest form of teaching, "content transfer through classroom lecture." Since the first study on educational methods in the year 1900, it has been proven over and over that lecture in a classroom is the LEAST effective method and place for learning. We should not be surprised when students come to lab with little foundation to stand on, so we must come alongside them and start where they are!

Teaching is the act of facilitating learning.

If we consider the student is the "product" molded by our processes, and let's ask (and keep asking), "What is best way for them to learn?" The student learns best through discussion, through trials, and through real world practice (same as the best AI computers!) Remember this phrase, "Practice is controlled failure." These deeper and more rewarding modes of learning, especially practice, is called DIRECTNESS, or experiential learning.

Now the good news! Labs create the perfect place for the best kinds of learning to take place! Labs allow group discussion, direct practice of concepts, experimentation, and, yes, even lecture. Most importantly, labs help build the necessary bridge between the ideas of Physics "learned" in the course lecture and the real world.

GROUP DISCUSSION:

What were some examples of active learning methods? Can you think of any more?

Does any want to share a story or experience of active learning from your experience?

FROM ANOTHER TA:

CORE LEARNING PRINCIPLES:

GROUP ACTIVITY:

List Bhavika's main points.

GROUP DISCUSSION:

Which of Bhavika's points or Core Learning Principles stuck out to you? Why?

How do our core learning principles compare with your past experience? Any ideas for improvement?

Work smart and be considerate of your fellows. Review the checklist and safety overview below:

Physics Lab personnel believe in the pursuit of excellence in our duty to facilitate learning. We design our environment and methods to encourage active learning for our students and seek out every opportunity to improve ourselves. We approach our students and each other with a heart of respect and "loving service" at all times, giving the best of ourselves for their benefit. We commit to Continuous Improvement, and to Communicate, Cooperate, and Collaborate.