Collaborating

With Student Instructors

With Writing Instructors

With Library Instructors

Working with a Student Instructor

Student Instructor (formerly "TA") is a new student position designed to actively support your class. They are trained in learning theories, instructional design, and the latest research on research. Depending on your needs and preferences, they can assist you in a variety of ways, including the following:

Co-designing the lesson plan.
Leading class discussions.
Running learning activities.
Managing the classroom. This could be student behaviors, the use of space, distributing handouts/supplies, etc.
Observing class dynamics to give you feedback.
Running the technology in the classroom. This includes being ready to show any videos, slides, etc., you want to use. The student instructor can also follow along with any demos as you show how to do searches in databases or use other sites.
Teaching the basics of RefWorks (saving to RefWorks, “Get It at BYU,” creating a Works Cited page).
Doing 1-1 consultations during work time.
Running Zoom (for the rare times when a writing instructor requests it).
Taking and recording attendance.

If you think of other ways to collaborate with the student instructors, please do! We want to give them valuable teaching experience.

Other Helpful Tips

When the student instructor is assigned to your class, they will reach out to you beforehand to set up a collaboration plan with you. You are welcome to direct them in whatever way works best for you.

At the beginning of class, invite the student instructor to introduce themselves.

If no student instructor was assigned to your class

For the rare times you have no student instructor, you can check with someone in the Writing Programs unit if you need some classroom assistance (Toni Pilcher, Suzanne Julian, Stacey Hatch, or Karin Patrick). If you end up teaching on your own, make sure to write down how many students were in the class. Then please send your attendance numbers to Stacey Hatch, and she will make sure they are recorded properly so they become part of your stats record.

Connect

One of the best ways to prepare for your class is to connect with the classroom instructor. This gives you an opportunity to build a rapport with them and get a feel for their expectations. They can give you the assignment their students are working on and let you know where the students are in developing their research questions. You can also learn about the temperament of the class so you know what kind of participation to expect.

Reach out to the classroom instructor before your library session.

Here is a sample email you could send:

Hi [name of classroom instructor]!

My name is _____, and I will be your librarian for your [course name] library sessions on [date]. I would love to visit with you briefly (in person or over zoom) to discuss the research assignment and anything specific you would like me to cover. What times are you available?

Thanks! I look forward to working with you!

When you schedule a time to chat, plan for about 15-20 minutes.

Collect

When you meet with the instructor, your main objective is to get a feel for how the class will be prepared for their time with you. You also can introduce the instructor to the basic information you will be covering.

Here are some questions you could consider asking the classroom instructor:

Research Assignment

What is the research prompt? (You can request that they send you a copy.)
What are the source requirements for this assignment?
- Academic? Popular/public? A mix?
- How many of each type?
When is the assignment due? (This gives you an idea of the timeline the students are on.)

Preparation for Library Session

Where will the students be in developing their research question? (Will they have just a topic? Key words and synonyms? A fully developed question?)

Basic Library Session Info

Tell the instructor the basic things you generally cover in the library session(s).
Is there anything they want you to focus on (or not focus on) during the library session?

Other Questions

Do they have a classroom ChatGPT/AI policy? (Ask this if you are thinking of using AI in the class.)
What is the general temperament of their class(es)? (Quiet and reserved? Participatory? Chatty? Thoughtful? Timid?)
Are there any student accommodations you should be aware of?