| Our
research has shown that you can’t just tell your TAs to use LabWrite
and expect them to do it effectively, in a way that engages students in
learning the science of the lab. It’s important to make your expectations
clear for how they should use LabWrite and to provide some training. We
provide the tools you need to fully prepare TAs for making the best use
of LabWrite resources.
There are two basic
areas you’ll need to cover in an introduction and training for TAs:
What is LabWrite?
A good way to introduce
your TA’s to LabWrite is to use the same tools that you will want
your TA’s to use when introducing LabWrite to their students. Go
to Teaching With LabWrite—The Basics on the Instructor’s Site
for information on introducing
students to Labwrite, and choose the format and materials you want
One good strategy
for building the TA’s familiarity with the website is to ask them,
after the introduction, to go through the LabWrite process for a lab,
preferably the first one that their students will be doing. This strategy
also has the advantage of giving the TA’s the opportunity to run
through that first lab and learn it well. It’s also possible to
use a box lab or a virtual lab. The experience of going through the lab
from PreLab to LabCheck will help the TA’s to provide better motivation
and guidance to their students in using LabWrite.
How to teach with LabWrite?
Once TA’s are familiar with LabWrite and have used it, you can address
the logistics of teaching. Teaching With LabWrite—The Basics in
the Instructors’ site deals with the basic issues that need to be
covered for using LabWrite effectively (you’ve already covered the
first one, an introduction to LabWrite).
1. Introducing
students to LabWrite
2. Assigning the
PreLab before labs
3. Reminding
students to use other parts of LabWrite as appropriate
4. Grading
lab reports
Each
of these links takes you to a brief discussion of the teaching issue and
provides further links to more in-depth treatments. Review this material
ahead of time to decide what approach you expect your TA’s to take
(see Initial Decisions for Using
LabWrite). One strategy is to have students pull up the Instructors’
website and go to these links, which provide an outline for the training.
You can discuss each issue, helping TA’s understand what your expectations
are for each one. (If computers are not available, ask the TA’s
to view How to Teach With
LabWrite—The Basics beforehand and to bring a copy to the training
session.
When
you reach Grading Lab Reports, have TA’s swap and grade the lab
reports they had written earlier when they did the lab using LabWrite.
After having written a trial lab report using LabWrite, the TA’s
will be familiar with the grading criteria in the grading rubric. Once
TA’s are familiar with the criteria and have practiced applying
them, you can discuss the grading logistics you have decided to apply
for this lab course (see Initial
Decisions for Using LabWrite). Making sure that TA’s are well
trained and understand your expectations can create greater consistency
in grades and grading practices across lab sections, reducing student
complaints.
|
