OBJECTIVES
The course objectives are to:

• provide a time and place for Geography teaching assistants to share insights and information;
• focus on particular, important, practical elements of teaching -- especially those relevant to graduate teaching assistants;
• develop a sense of critical self-awareness in each participant's teaching practices.

There is one required textbook/resource:  Tools for Teaching by Barbara Gross Davis (San Francisco:  Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1993.  We will explicitly read and discuss seven of the twelve sections of this book;  I have found all the sections (and constituent chapters) to be useful.  I've placed two copies of the book on the "will call" shelf in the Department office, 408 Smith Hall.

Because this course is required annually for graduate teaching assistants in Geography, I've developed an alternative assignment for Geography TAs who have taken the classroom version of Geography 599 at least twice before this year (and who have served as TA for at least two quarters):  developing and presenting a teaching portfolio.  This can help you articulate what you want to accomplish when teaching, what you've learned from your experiences, and what you could improve.  There are many guides to portfolio preparation:  I've compiled a very brief overview.

GRADING
This one-credit course is graded with only "Credit" or "No Credit."  The course's one credit will be granted to any student who attends all of the scheduled meetings (with some possibility of prior excuse of one session), or who submits and presents a teaching portfolio (we'll have to work out a schedule for presentations;  the experience is more valuable if some of you can hear each other's presentations).

SCHEDULE

Tuesday 2 October
In the Classroom and in the Office
Davis:  Section III (pages 63-95) and Chapters 44 & 45
focal discussion: classroom challenges in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks

Tuesday 9 October
Lecture Fundamentals;  Motivating Students
Davis:  Chapters 13 & 14 and Section VI (pages 177-203)

Tuesday 16 October
Assessing Student Learning;  Testing and Grading
Guest discussant:  Sam Wineburg, UW School of Education
Davis:  Section VIII (pages 239-311);  also see the UW guidelines on grading and academic dishonesty
>>> direct link to "academic dishonesty"

Tuesday 23 October
Dimensions of Diversity;  Learning Objectives
Davis:  Section II (pages 31-59);  we'll also discuss the Department's G-LOOP process

Tuesday 30 October
The Scholarship of Teaching:  Gathering and Evaluating Information on Your Teaching
Davis:  Section X (pages 345-366) and Chapter 48