Some Department Teaching Assistant's (TA) at UAF that seem to care less when it comes to teaching. Some post-degree seeking students are getting paid by UAF to study while being a TA. The problem is that that some have ZERO experience teaching, which causes students who count on a solid foundation in their major to lack the necessary skills and knowledge necessary for the next level. After talking to many students about the issue, most say that student TA's "Just go through the motions", and "Many are unable to provide answers to questions to the material that is given". In my opinion, this is probably because they fail to review the material that is given and have a plan for how their class will be conducted, because it's easier to look at their grade sheet for the answer. Its understandable to an extent. since they are students as well, but I would say that the professor should at least, at a minimum, go in to a class and see how it's going. I mean the TA's do teach on their behalf... just saying.
I would say that the TA's argument probably go something like, " If the student has issues then they should say something". And I will agree with that... to an extent. However, my take is, "How about the university ensure that when giving a TA scholarship you evaluate the teaching ability, and retrain if necessary".
I post this to see if others have experienced this phenomenon. This topic of conversation seems to be the norm I've had for the last two weeks with various students. The majority say that its only a few TA's, others take teaching by the horns and do extremely well.
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