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Full-Text Articles in Education
Extra-Curricular Life Of Overseas Student Teachers, Michael W. Firmin, Ruth L. Firmin, Brenda B. Mackay
Extra-Curricular Life Of Overseas Student Teachers, Michael W. Firmin, Ruth L. Firmin, Brenda B. Mackay
Education Faculty Publications
Overseas student-teaching is becoming increasingly popular among American college students. Unfortunately, relatively little is known empirically regarding how these students find their experiences—academically or outside of the teaching classroom. Consequently, the present research study used rigorous qualitative methods in order to appraise extra-curricular experiences from a sample of 13 students who completed their student teaching overseas. Results showed students to experience surface relationships with nationals and deeper connections with faculty. While the student teachers reported participating in various excursions alongside nationals, they generally categorized their connections with these people on surface levels, explaining that relationships were hindered by language barrier …
Utilizing Undergraduate Assistants In General Education Courses, Michael W. Firmin
Utilizing Undergraduate Assistants In General Education Courses, Michael W. Firmin
Psychology Faculty Publications
This conceptual article relates a best-practice paradigm for undergraduate faculty who teach relatively large, undergraduate, general education courses and utilize an undergraduate teaching assistant (TA). Suggested characteristics for successful TAs are related as well as intrinsic and extrinsic motivators that help recruit quality assistants. Five factors are shared that are believed to have made an undergraduate TA program successful for 20 years: the quality of students recruited, helping students to handle well their peer-relationships with students in the class, learning which items can and cannot successfully be delegated to TAs, harnessing the potency of relationships, and maintaining a healthy benefit/cost …