Training Computer Science Teaching Assistants to Motivate Students

该项目旨在通过重新设计、实施和评估计算机科学系的助教培训项目来服务于国家利益。助教在激发学生对大型计算机科学课程的参与度方面发挥着重要作用。然而，助教往往没有教学经验，也没有培养有效激励学生参与的技能。CS助教培训项目的目的是使用基于证据的实践，以当前的动机理论为基础，重新设计、实施和评估培训计划，旨在帮助CS助教使用包容性教学实践，激励所有学生参与他们的CS课程。主要成果之一将是开发CS助教培训原型，该原型可以为弗吉尼亚理工大学CS系的机构改进奠定基础，并作为助教培训的框架，供其他部门和机构使用。约80名CS助教将在每学期前和学期中参加培训。参加培训的助教以及他们课程中的学生将在课程开始和结束时接受调查，以评估随着时间的推移，助教培训对他们动机信念的影响。这些数据以及学生的成绩将被分析以回答这些主要的研究问题：CS课程中的TA培训在多大程度上可以影响(A)学生在CS课程中的动机认知和成绩，以及(B)学生和助教的CS动机信念和目标？项目成果将通过会议报告、研讨会、名单服务器、期刊和网站进行传播。该项目的长期成果可能包括改进评估CS助教培训的方法，改进其他机构的助教培训，以及由于CS自我效能感和归属感的增加而增加在CS领域代表性不足的学生的人数。NSF IUSE：EDU计划支持研究和开发项目，以提高所有学生的STEM教育的有效性。通过其参与的学生学习跟踪，该计划支持有前途的实践和工具的创建、探索和实施。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project aims to serve the national interest by redesigning, implementing, and evaluating a teaching assistant training project in a computer science (CS) department. Teaching assistants (TAs) can play an important role in motivating student engagement in large CS courses. However, TAs often do not have the teaching experience, nor have they developed the skills needed to effectively motivate student engagement. The purpose of the CS TA Training project is to use evidence-based practices based on current motivation theories to redesign, implement, and evaluate a training program designed explicitly to help CS TAs use inclusive teaching practices that motivate all students to engage in their CS courses. One of the primary outcomes will be the development of a CS TA Training prototype that can lay the groundwork for institutional improvement within the CS department at Virginia Tech and which serve as framework for TA training for use in other departments and institutions. About 80 CS TAs will participate in the training before and during each semester. TAs who participate in the training, as well as the students in their courses, will be surveyed near the beginning and end of the courses to assess the impact of the TA training on their motivational beliefs over time. These data, along with students’ grades, will be analyzed to answer these primary research questions: To what extent can TA training in CS courses affect (a) students’ motivational perceptions and grades in CS courses, and (b) students’ and TAs’ CS motivational beliefs and goals? The project findings will be disseminated through conference presentations, workshops, listservs, journals, and websites. Long-term outcomes of the project may include enhanced methods to evaluate CS TA training, improved TA training at other institutions, and increased representation of students underrepresented in CS fields due to their increased perceptions of CS self-efficacy and sense of belonging. The NSF IUSE: EDU Program supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through its Engaged Student Learning track, the program supports the creation, exploration, and implementation of promising practices and tools.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.