Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!pdn!reggie
From: reggie@pdn.UUCP (George W. Leach)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Re: Student and Course Integrity
Message-ID: <5225@pdn.UUCP>
Date: 27 Dec 88 11:40:57 GMT
References: <4550@homxc.UUCP> <4847@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> <2082@imagine.PAWL.RPI.EDU> <9237@ihlpb.ATT.COM>
Reply-To: reggie@pdn.UUCP (George W. Leach)
Organization: Paradyne Corporation,   Largo FL
Lines: 39

In article <9237@ihlpb.ATT.COM> nevin1@ihlpb.UUCP (55528-Liber,N.J.) writes:

>But look who teaches the intro courses at the majority of American
>universities:  teaching assistants.  What are their *teaching*
>qualifications?  None.  You do not need an education in education to be
>considered qualified to practice education at the college level (ironic,
>isn't it?).  I cannot think of any other profession where this is true.


     I can.  How many managers do you know who have had adequate training
in managerial skills?  Sure some people go out on their own and earn an
MBA, but it is not required.  Often people are promoted into management
and never required to take any training.


BTW:  I agree with you the training of teachers.  We require more of our
secondary teachers.  However, they lack subject matter expertise.  The
problem is worse with TAs, who often lack both.



     I have taught, part time, as an adjunct.  My preparation consisted
of being handed the text for the course, some out of date course notes,
and a copy of the undergraduate catalog.  After that I was on my own.
One thing that I did find quite helpful was the student evaluation forms
that were filled out at the end of the semester.  However, I'm sure that
the vast majority of the people who are teaching don't pay much attention
to them.






-- 
George W. Leach					Paradyne Corporation
..!uunet!pdn!reggie				Mail stop LG-129
Phone: (813) 530-2376				P.O. Box 2826
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