Related Opportunities
Over the summer, there are several programs that employ "TAs" to help teach. While not officially affiliated with the TA program, they are examples of the many types of undergraduate opportunities, especially in the realm of teaching, that exist in this department.
There are also several other job opportunities, both in the summer, and during the school year. The ugrad jobs page summarizes these positions.
The Bridge Course
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Danah Beard (dmb) and Andrea Tartaro (adt)
Not only is the Bridge Course an amazing opportunity for students, it challenged me as a leader. While being a TA during the semester allows undergrads the great opportunity to affect a course and test the waters of teaching, the final weight was not on our shoulders. As a Bridge Course Leader, I was able to work with my partner to make every decision that would immediately benefit the students. If we felt that they did not understand a topic, we would have to figure out a way to review it the next day. In the same way, while we had great flexibility, we also had a great deal of responsibility. We had to gain the students' respect and convey our message in the best way possible. We critiqued each other's teaching and work with the students in order to help the course run smoothly. Personally, it was an extremely beneficial experience. I learned the importance of education and what it means to teach.
The Artemis Project
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Saori Taichi (st)
Not only was I able to learn teaching techniques such as "how to get students to listen but still keep them excited," or "how can I fit ten million activities in a day," I also gained great interpersonal skills through the challenge of being both my students' teacher and friend. The summer offered me an unique experience because I was not stressed with school work and could focus all my energy, enthusiasm, attention and skills in teaching and creating activities for my students.
Most importantly, however, I gained a self-confidence I could never have otherwise gained had I not been able to give all my heart to the project. The fact that for two months I could dedicate myself to Artemis, made the final accomplishment ever so more valuable to me; making me confident that when I place my strength in something I believe to be worthwhile, I can successfully accomplish it.
| Page Owner: Meta-TA | Last Modified: Tue Oct 14 18:21:17 2008 |