Abstract:
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Post-secondary mathematics and statistics instructors are charged to foster active learning in their classrooms, engaging students in activities that promote higher-order thinking. However, not all educators are prepared to teach in this way, especially if they have never been exposed to it in their own coursework. This is particularly true for many graduate teaching assistants (GTAs). GTAs play a critical role in undergraduate education at many post-secondary institutions, but most have little to no experience implementing active learning techniques. This research examines the use of several training and mentoring opportunities for new GTAs in order to enhance instruction and foster active learning in the mathematics and statistics courses they teach. In this presentation, we will briefly describe the program and the activities in which the GTAs participated, providing examples of how to immerse GTAs in active learning and encourage them to implement such techniques in their own classes. In addition, we will reflect on our experiences and offer advice for others interested in offering similar professional development opportunities for GTAs.
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