|
 |
| On this Page: |
Are you looking for a new way to involve students? Would you like to make more use of student leaders and Graduate Assistants in your classroom? You should consider a teaching team! The Teaching Teams Program (TTP) is an instructor-student initiative endorsed by the University’s Office of Undergraduate Education. The program recruits and trains teaching teams that consist of instructors, graduate teaching assistants (GTAs), and preceptors (undergraduate assistants, or peer tutors) who work together to provide support for lower division students. The teaching team approach is an optional, flexible strategy that instructors can adapt to their courses to mitigate the negative effects of large classes on learning. The most innovative features of this program is the integration of preceptors into class activities, and the emphasis on a “team” of motivated instructors and supporters.
Instructors are keenly aware of the high absenteeism and dropout rates in general education courses, and they often note that their office hours are poorly attended in spite of so many students needing encouragement and extra help. Often, this problem stems from student apathy toward the course work, and from students feeling intimidated by the instructors and/or the course material. Preceptors, as peer-teaching assistants, can remedy these problems by acting as liaisons between the instructor, GTAs and students.
A preceptorship is one type of cooperative learning activity, a learning strategy that the University strongly encourages all instructors to implement in one form or another. Thus, by engaging undergraduates on teaching teams, instructors strive for that Holy Grail of education reform: getting students more involved in, and prompting them to take more responsibility for their education. While preceptors are generally representative of classroom academic achievement, they are the individuals who are willing to work and are interested in making a difference in the classroom. These motivated students embody academic success. The instructor and GTAs share primary responsibility for preceptor readiness with TTP through their own participation at team meetings, teaching teams preceptor training courses, and other interactions with preceptors.
Preceptor compensation and training are provided through the Teaching Teams Program’s training courses. To ensure preceptor accountability, all preceptor-training courses are graded. Instructors and TTP share in providing the grade for the students. The instructor’s portion of the grade comprises 51% of the total grade and is based upon the work preceptors do in their courses. The program’s portion of the grade (49%) is based upon the preceptor’s effort participation in the training courses, as outlined by the training course instructor. More information about Preceptor Training can be found here.
Preceptors can be active both in and out of the classroom. Below are some common preceptor activities, though these are definitely not the only things preceptors can do. If you would like additional ideas, please contact us and we can work with you individually.
In Class: |
Out of Class: Exam review sessions Study groups Act as a sounding board between faculty and students Homework help Special skill workshops Peer review writing Help with projects and assignments Extra-credit workshops (ex: movie night) |
Preceptor Registration and Training
Turning Information Into Knowledge Workshop Series
Turning Informaiton Into Knowledge Grants Program
About the Teaching Teams Program
|
The University of Arizona Teaching Teams Program
Department of Planetary Sciences/Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
Kuiper Space Sciences 351 | 1629 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85721-0092 | 520-621-3991 | ttp@u.arizona.edu | © 2004 Arizona Board of Regents
Last updated
August 18, 2005
