Using Cooperative Learning Techniques to Train New Teaching Assistants

A new approach to teaching new teaching assistants, using cooperative learning techniques is described. After an introduction to functioning as groups, the teaching assistants are given a number of activities, such as questions to answer, which are described briefly. Groups report back to the course instructors and share ideas with other groups. Teaching assistants develop considerable camaraderie, with enhanced cooperation and mutual support. Teaching assistants reach their own conclusions about teaching methods and procedures, which are in general agreement with the philosophies of the course instructors. As a result, teaching assistants have much more interactive discussion sessions with their own students than in the past. The teaching assistants also begin to take a more active role in course management, which now invovles team-building techniques. These techniques have led to improvements in course management.