Teaching Assistant Workshop

Learning Activities

History of BYU

It has been said the Saints will be saviors upon Mount Zion, that they are destined to redeem the world. Redeem the world from what? From the thralldom of sin, ignorance, and degradation! In order to do this, Zion will have to take the lead in everything and consequently also in education …

Karl G. Maeser

BYU Mission

The mission of Brigham Young University founded, supported, and guided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is “To assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life.

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Aims of a BYU Education

Spiritually Strengthening.

Intellectually Enlarging.

Character Building, Leading to Lifelong Learning and Service

Levels of Learning

Level 1: Remember. Level 2: Understand.

Level 3: Apply Level 4: Analyze Level 5: Evaluate Level 6: Create

Learning at the University Level

High School Level

Reproduce Class Class is everything

University Level

Apply what is learned to new situations Much learning occurs outside classroom Instructor guides students Instructor programs students Almost no readings Read for comprehension. Many hours.

Fast-paced style Slow-paced style

Course Design

Spend sometime on preparing (or understanding) a complete syllabus including classes and exams schedules.

Explain the course policies and expectations.

Take time to select homework problems according to the course objectives. Avoid giving too much of the same.

Before Class

Write a class outline. Write all computations. Avoid surprises while lecturing.

Estimate the time to be spent lecturing and in any other learning activity in the classroom.

When preparing your class, ask yourself questions about key points of the subject that you are teaching.

Before Class (cont.)

Work out some of the homework problems. It will give you more confidence in the subject being taught.

Make sure you have a good understanding of all your lecture content. If you have doubt do some research to clarify yourself.

During Class

Do not depend too much on your written notes.

Speak loudly, eye contact, face students.

Talk while writing, write clearly and at a moderate speed.

Write down everything! If is not on the board, it will rarely make into notes.

During Class (cont.)

Keep a vision of your lecture. Where are you? and where are you going?

In each class, involve the students in problem solving activities. Invite them to respond to thought-provoking questions. Example Provide relevant learning opportunities: Supervise work in class by individual and groups

During Class (cont.)

Make sure you kindly correct students conceptual errors.

Always encourage your students learning, never diminish them.

BE HUMBLE.

After Class

Reflect on how your class developed.

Record any identified problem and think in ways of improvement.

Keep your notes in an orderly manner for future use or reference.

Prepare the next class with the previous one in mind. It helps continuity and integration of the subject being taught.

Motivation to Learn

Love of Learning

“The more I consider what learning is, the more I see it as a sacred privilege, an act of wonder. I believe that when we are learning we feel most alive. when we are learning we feel closest to God” Russ Osguthorpe, 1996

Love of Learners

“If we want to influence learners for good, we should not merely love to teach; we should love each person we teach.” Teaching, No greater Call, 1999