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  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2006  > February  >
Research: Science and Education
Chemical Education Research
Catalyzing Graduate Teaching Assistants' Laboratory Teaching through Design Research
Janet Bond-Robinson and Romola A. Bernard Rodriques
Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045
Cover
February 2006
Vol. 83 No. 2
p. 313
Abstract
We report on a study of a laboratory teaching apprenticeship program designed to improve graduate teaching assistant (GTA) performance. To catalyze GTAs as laboratory teachers we constructed learning goals, synthesized previous literature into a design model and a developmental path, and built two instruments to measure 12 strategic pedagogical interactions. The resulting model is a cognitive apprenticeship. The instructors encourage GTAs to teach chemical knowledge by guiding their undergraduates' reasoning—in addition to explicit transmission of chemical knowledge. The new graduate course was refined over 5 fall semesters and 83 graduate students. Qualitative audio-video supplemented statistical data. Valid and reliable data, collected from coding 12 strategic interactions while GTAs taught a lab, were used to judge effectiveness of teaching in terms of pedagogical chemical knowledge (PChK). Three types of laboratory PChK are defined and described. The results show that 45% of new GTAs developed higher forms of PChK. Exemplary GTAs found that the extended time in lab is an advantageous occasion to teach UGs how to reason with chemical concepts; their actions utilized a constructivist learning model focused on directing students to reason, thereby increasing students' abilities to reason. Some 8% of new GTAs developed only the lowest form of PChK, procedural teaching.
Supplement
Laboratory Teaching Apprenticeship course materials are available. They include a syllabus; a figure illustrating the course design and development; two assessment instruments, one for instructors (ITAT) and one for UGs (UGATA); and two handouts.
*  Contents JCE2006p0313W.doc (Microsoft Word)
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*  Citation
 Bond-Robinson, Janet; Rodriques, Romola A. Bernard. J. Chem. Educ. 2006 83 313.
*  Keywords
 Chemical Education Research; Graduate Education / Research; Laboratory Management; Multimedia-Based Learning; Problem Solving / Decision Making; Professional Development; Student-Centered Learning; TA Training / Orientation
*  History
 Created:
Last Updated:		 1/5/2006
1/9/2006
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