A good friend of mine once wrote about the importance of hope in pedagogy. Essentially, his article went like this: hope is a widely accepted “good idea,” is a social force for positive change, includes a sense of responsibility, and, for educators, a readiness to invest ourselves in the ongoing struggle to create possibilities for students and ourselves where it seemed none existed before.
Where I’m going with all this is that I want you all to hope in Fall 2015. I want you all to embrace the opportunities you are being given – whether they include leading a lab, processing scantrons, or working in a lab – and see them for the possibilities they can create.
GATAcademy is always circled on my calendar because it’s a focal point for possibilities. GATAcademy is where possibilities are born. GATAcademy is where, two weeks ago, 300 people gathered to talk about concrete possibilities for better teaching and learning.
I hope you face challenges that test your limits.
I hope you witness meaningful student engagement.
I hope you are provided opportunities to lead, create, and manage.
I hope you find balance in your life.
I hope you make discoveries.
This is the part where I tell you it’s okay to be afraid, anxious, or even apathetic. The threat of the unknown looms large in the minds of GAs/TAs. What will my supervisor be like? How will students react to me? Will I find time for my work and my studies?
Not everyone has the teaching itch. Some GAs/TAs are thrust into teaching roles when all they are looking for is a job that helps to pay tuition. My advice to these individuals is twofold:
- Remember what it was like to be in your students’ position, and use that understanding to motivate yourself to support their learning to the best of your ability.
- Keep stock of all of the skills you are developing as a GA/TA that could apply to any other job. Presentation, people management, time management, and critical reasoning skills are all transferable skills that you will develop as a GA/TA and apply in future roles.
In the end, what I want you to remember is that personal and professional development are intrinsically important. Whether you plan to work in the field you will be assisting in or not, this is an opportunity to build character. Successfully managing a GA/TA position shows that you are responsible, reliable, and able to multitask. What career doesn’t require those things?
More importantly, get excited about learning! Yes, I mean it. Think about all of the “Ah hah” moments and lightbulb/”Eureka!”‘s you will be a part of this semester. Some of those moments will come easy, others will take some hard work from all involved. Whatever the case, when they happen, they will be gloriously rewarding.
Now that you’re a few weeks into the semester, and as deadlines and responsibilities become real and weighty, it’s okay to be wavering in enthusiasm. It’s also alright to be low on energy and thinking about how your own studies are important and how you can’t spend all of your time on your assistantship. But when those feelings grow, remember your role in the creation of endless possibilities in the classroom, remember…
References
Jacobs, D. (2012) What’s hope got to do with it?: Theorizing hope in education. In Eds. Lynn Worsham and Gary Olson Education as civic engagement: Toward a more democratic society. New York: Palgrave. Retrieved from http://www.jaconlinejournal.com/archives/vol25.4/jacobs-hope.pdf
