The purpose of this study was to identify in which areas of teaching assistant responsibilities graduate teaching assistants, professors, and students viewed TAs as knowledgeable, and in which areas of teaching assistant responsibilities graduate teaching assistants, professors, and students viewed TAs as utilized. Specifically, the purpose of the study was to determine whether teaching assistants were utilized or perceived as knowledgeable in curriculum development, course maintenance, teaching responsibilities, and mentoring. Teaching assistants, students, and instructors (n = 233) were administered a survey purposed to measure TAs' effectiveness based on their utility and knowledge in four areas of TA responsibilities: curriculum development, course maintenance, teaching responsibilities, and mentoring. All three participant groups perceived that TAs were utilized in course maintenance and mentoring, and they perceived the TAs were knowledgeable in course maintenance, teaching responsibilities, and mentoring. Overall, instructors viewed TAs as more knowledgeable than did the TA participant group, and the TA participant group viewed themselves as more knowledgeable than did the student participant group.

The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate the perceptions of preservice teachers toward native and nonnative English speaking (NES and NNES) graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) in English as a second language (ESL) methodology and/or ESL assessment courses at a Southwestern U.S. university. This study also investigated the perceptions of NES and NNES GTAs toward preservice teachers. This study explored the issue of whether preservice teachers are prepared to accept and validate diversity among their instructors which in turn should make them sensitive to diverse learners they will encounter in their future teaching. In the first part of the study, a total of 262 preservice teachers were surveyed. The survey data were collected in spring 2007 and fall 2008. Of the 262 preservice teachers, 20 participated in focus group discussions to provide further insight on their views of NES and NNES GTAs. In the second part of the study, four GTAs participated in a longitudinal study by writing online blog entries after any encounters (positive or negative) they had with their students inside and outside the classroom. The blogs reflected the GTAs? immediate reactions after their classes. In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the GTAs. Findings of the first study revealed that preservice teacher perceived NES and NNES GTAs differently. Preservice teachers put a lot of emphasis on the intelligibility of the NNES GTAs. The preservice teachers were ?tolerant? if their NNES spoke English ?clearly?. However, there were some preservice teachers who were dissatisfied with their NNES GTAs due to their possessing a non-mainstream language. Findings of the second study revealed that NNES GTAs faced major challenges in their effort to be recognized as legitimate and competent instructors. Although the GTAs had vastly different personal backgrounds, perceptions, and identities as instructors, common themes or issues emerged from the data: (1) teaching is complex (linguistic, cultural, and racial issues are involved); (2) beliefs about teaching can change; (3) challenges are faced as an ?outsider? instructor; and (4) teaching provides experiences of joy. The study has implications for teacher education programs and training programs offered for international graduate students by universities.

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This yearlong dissertation study focused on understanding the experiences of domestic graduate mathematics teaching assistants (GMTAs) and the context in which they shape and develop their teaching views and practices. The intent of the study was to detail the teaching development of several GMTAs, determine the impact that their preparation programs had on their teaching, and identify other sources that influenced their teaching practices. Utilizing qualitative research methodology, consisting of interviews substantiated by observations, eight GMTAs were purposively selected and studied. Analysis provided the following findings.GMTAs are not a homogenous group; they bring with them different experiences, knowledge, preparation, and attitudes, all of which influence the way that they teach. In addition, a number of factors, many of which are external, played strong roles in shaping GMTAs' teaching practices. This study both identifies such factors and describes how they impacted the GMTAs' teaching practices.Preparation (training) programs were among these factors. Preparation programs can impact the teaching practices of GMTAs. This impact, however, is affected by the influence of other factors (such as course structure, time management, and limited pedagogical knowledge), which can support, constrain, or even counter-act the impact of training programs; this provides insight into why research has found programs to have limited impact on GMTAs' teaching. Furthermore, GMTAs are not always aware of the ways in which these programs impact their teaching; positive testimonials and attitudes toward training do not guarantee influence or impact on teaching practices, nor do negative ones; this suggests caution in using interviews as the sole basis for the evaluation of training programs.This dissertation provides detailed data stories for three of the participants. A list of factors and discussion of how they impacted their teaching practices is given. Some connections are made to research on K-12 teacher preparation. It shows the need for extended GMTA preparation programs, programs which provide significant instructional knowledge and which include guided instructional practices. For researchers, it shows the need to include classroom observations when studying and evaluating preparation programs, discussing the limitations of solely interview based findings.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina Wilmington, 2008. / Title from PDF title page (viewed September 22, 2008) Includes bibliographical references (p. 50-52)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Illinois State University, 1999. / Title from title page screen, viewed July 28, 2006. Dissertation Committee: Douglas Hesse (chair), Janice Neuleib, Kenneth Lindblom. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 237-245) and abstract. Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Illinois State University, 1999. / Title from title page screen, viewed July 31, 2006. Dissertation Committee: Janice Neuleib (chair), Douglas Hesse, Kenneth Lindblom. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 202-209) and abstract. Also available in print.

Esta tese, intitulada Docência no Ensino Superior: revelando saberes dos professores da área da saúde da Unicruz, trata do papel exercido do papel exercido pelas universidades comunitárias no desenvolvimento científico e humano; na colaboração com a produção e disseminação do conhecimento produzido; na necessidade de buscar cada vez mais a qualificação do trabalho desenvolvido pelos profissionais da área da saúde. Para isso, o problema da investigação assim se expressa: Dentre os saberes mobilizados na prática pedagógica dos professores da área da saúde, quais os que se evidenciam/predominam e em que situações pedagógicas qualificam sua prática. Na proposição de tese, os professores dos cursos de Biomedicina, Enfermagem, Farmácia, Fisioterapia, Nutrição são sujeitos do conhecimento, e sua prática é um espaço de produção e mobilização de saberes. Os objetivos que delimitam e cercam o objeto de investigação consistem em: (re) conhecer os saberes mobilizados na prática pedagógica dos professores da área da saúde; identificar os saberes que predominam/evidenciam na prática, bem como os motivos; analisar as situações que qualificam a prática pedagógica. A abordagem é de natureza qualitativa da pesquisa, através de um estudo de caso. A opção foi por estruturar a tese em duas partes: o contexto dos saberes docentes e o sentido do saberes na realidade institucional. Para tanto, perpassam as duas partes os três grandes eixos do trabalho: I universidade: surgimento e contribuições; trajetória e compromisso; II – docência universitária: concepções e sentidos; III – saberes docentes: vivências e desafios. A fim de dar conta do entrelaçamento dos saberes, a tese está organizada em quatro capítulos. Os sujeitos que fizeram parte da pesquisa e que responderam ao questionário semiestruturado foram em número de dez professores, dois de cada um dos cursos, com amostra intencional, tendo-se, como critério, professores que estivessem trabalhando há mais de um ano na universidade, efetivos e que demonstrassem interesse pelo estudo. Com a síntese e análise dos questionários, foram selecionados cinco docentes para a entrevista, tendo em vista o aprofundamento de algumas questões. Foram definidas, como categorias, os saberes mobilizados na prática pedagógica; os saberes que se evidenciam/predominam; as situações pedagógicas que qualificam a prática. Em cada uma das categorias, outras foram sendo identificadas e apresentadas para reflexão. Em síntese conclui-se que a construção teórica e os depoimentos dos docentes confirmam a proposição inicial e evidenciam que, a retomada dos projetos Institucionais e de cursos; a prática interdisciplinar, o Fórum Permanente da Pedagogia Universitária são possibilidades de qualificar a prática dos docentes. / This thesis, entitled “Graduate teaching: revealing knowledges of professors of the health teaching area at UNICRUZ”, deals with the role of the communitarian universities on the scientific and human development; on their collaboration with the production and dissemination of the knowledge produced and on the need to look for the qualification of the work developed by the professionals of the health area. Thus, the investigation problem is expressed as follows: Among the knowledges mobilized in the pedagogical practice of the professors of the health area, the ones that predominate/are evidenced and in which pedagogical situations their practice is qualified. In the thesis proposition, the professors of the Biomedicine, Nursery, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy and Nutrition courses are the subjects of the knowledge, and their practice is a production space and mobilization of knowledges. The approach is a research of qualitative nature through a case study. The option was to structure the thesis in two parts: the context of the teaching knowledges and the meaning of the knowledges in the institutional reality. Therefore, the two parts pass by the three big work axis: I university: its arising and contributions, trajectory and compromise; II – universitarian teaching: conceptions and meanings; III - teaching knowledges: sociability and challenges. Aiming to understand the interlacement of knowledges, the thesis is organized in four chapters. Ten professors, two of each of the courses under study, were the subjects that took part in the research and that answered the semi-structured questionnaire. The subjects were intentionally chosen, and the criterium used was to choose effective professors working for more than one year at the university and who also demonstrated interest in the study. After the synthesis and analysis of the questionnaires, five professors were selected for an interview, aiming to better understand some questionings.The knowledges mobilized during the pedagogical practice were defined as categories; the predominating/evidenced knowledges and the pedagogical situations that qualify the pedagogical practice. In each one of the categories, others were identified and were taken into account for reflection. In synthesis, it is concluded that the theoretical construction and the professors testimony confirm the initial proposition and put into evidence that the retaking of institutional projects and of courses; the interdisciplinary practice and the Permanent Universitarian Pedagogical Forum are possibilities to qualify the practice of the professors.

Esta tese, intitulada Docência no Ensino Superior: revelando saberes dos professores da área da saúde da Unicruz, trata do papel exercido do papel exercido pelas universidades comunitárias no desenvolvimento científico e humano; na colaboração com a produção e disseminação do conhecimento produzido; na necessidade de buscar cada vez mais a qualificação do trabalho desenvolvido pelos profissionais da área da saúde. Para isso, o problema da investigação assim se expressa: Dentre os saberes mobilizados na prática pedagógica dos professores da área da saúde, quais os que se evidenciam/predominam e em que situações pedagógicas qualificam sua prática. Na proposição de tese, os professores dos cursos de Biomedicina, Enfermagem, Farmácia, Fisioterapia, Nutrição são sujeitos do conhecimento, e sua prática é um espaço de produção e mobilização de saberes. Os objetivos que delimitam e cercam o objeto de investigação consistem em: (re) conhecer os saberes mobilizados na prática pedagógica dos professores da área da saúde; identificar os saberes que predominam/evidenciam na prática, bem como os motivos; analisar as situações que qualificam a prática pedagógica. A abordagem é de natureza qualitativa da pesquisa, através de um estudo de caso. A opção foi por estruturar a tese em duas partes: o contexto dos saberes docentes e o sentido do saberes na realidade institucional. Para tanto, perpassam as duas partes os três grandes eixos do trabalho: I universidade: surgimento e contribuições; trajetória e compromisso; II – docência universitária: concepções e sentidos; III – saberes docentes: vivências e desafios. A fim de dar conta do entrelaçamento dos saberes, a tese está organizada em quatro capítulos. Os sujeitos que fizeram parte da pesquisa e que responderam ao questionário semiestruturado foram em número de dez professores, dois de cada um dos cursos, com amostra intencional, tendo-se, como critério, professores que estivessem trabalhando há mais de um ano na universidade, efetivos e que demonstrassem interesse pelo estudo. Com a síntese e análise dos questionários, foram selecionados cinco docentes para a entrevista, tendo em vista o aprofundamento de algumas questões. Foram definidas, como categorias, os saberes mobilizados na prática pedagógica; os saberes que se evidenciam/predominam; as situações pedagógicas que qualificam a prática. Em cada uma das categorias, outras foram sendo identificadas e apresentadas para reflexão. Em síntese conclui-se que a construção teórica e os depoimentos dos docentes confirmam a proposição inicial e evidenciam que, a retomada dos projetos Institucionais e de cursos; a prática interdisciplinar, o Fórum Permanente da Pedagogia Universitária são possibilidades de qualificar a prática dos docentes. / This thesis, entitled “Graduate teaching: revealing knowledges of professors of the health teaching area at UNICRUZ”, deals with the role of the communitarian universities on the scientific and human development; on their collaboration with the production and dissemination of the knowledge produced and on the need to look for the qualification of the work developed by the professionals of the health area. Thus, the investigation problem is expressed as follows: Among the knowledges mobilized in the pedagogical practice of the professors of the health area, the ones that predominate/are evidenced and in which pedagogical situations their practice is qualified. In the thesis proposition, the professors of the Biomedicine, Nursery, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy and Nutrition courses are the subjects of the knowledge, and their practice is a production space and mobilization of knowledges. The approach is a research of qualitative nature through a case study. The option was to structure the thesis in two parts: the context of the teaching knowledges and the meaning of the knowledges in the institutional reality. Therefore, the two parts pass by the three big work axis: I university: its arising and contributions, trajectory and compromise; II – universitarian teaching: conceptions and meanings; III - teaching knowledges: sociability and challenges. Aiming to understand the interlacement of knowledges, the thesis is organized in four chapters. Ten professors, two of each of the courses under study, were the subjects that took part in the research and that answered the semi-structured questionnaire. The subjects were intentionally chosen, and the criterium used was to choose effective professors working for more than one year at the university and who also demonstrated interest in the study. After the synthesis and analysis of the questionnaires, five professors were selected for an interview, aiming to better understand some questionings.The knowledges mobilized during the pedagogical practice were defined as categories; the predominating/evidenced knowledges and the pedagogical situations that qualify the pedagogical practice. In each one of the categories, others were identified and were taken into account for reflection. In synthesis, it is concluded that the theoretical construction and the professors testimony confirm the initial proposition and put into evidence that the retaking of institutional projects and of courses; the interdisciplinary practice and the Permanent Universitarian Pedagogical Forum are possibilities to qualify the practice of the professors.