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（CS）系的教学助理培训项目来服务于国家利益。教学助理（TA）可以在激励学生参与大型CS课程方面发挥重要作用。然而，助教往往没有教学经验，也没有开发出有效激励学生参与所需的技能。CS TA培训项目的目的是使用基于当前动机理论的循证实践来重新设计，实施和评估明确设计的培训计划，以帮助CS TA使用包容性的教学实践，激励所有学生参与CS课程。主要成果之一将是CS TA培训原型的开发，该原型可以为弗吉尼亚理工大学CS部门内的机构改进奠定基础，并作为TA培训的框架，供其他部门和机构使用。大约80名CS助教将在每学期之前和期间参加培训。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，以评估助教培训对他们的动机信念的影响。这些数据，沿着学生的成绩，将被分析，以回答这些主要的研究问题：在多大程度上可以TA培训CS课程影响（a）学生的动机感知和CS课程的成绩，和（B）学生和TA的CS动机信念和目标？项目结果将通过会议演示、研讨会、列表服务、期刊和网站传播。该项目的长期成果可能包括增强的方法来评估CS TA培训，提高TA培训在其他机构，并增加代表性不足的学生在CS领域，由于他们的CS自我效能感和归属感的增加的看法。NSF IUSE：EDU计划支持研究和开发项目，以提高所有学生STEM教育的有效性。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值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.