Getting Started:
- Lock in TA Times.
- Pick a Notecard pickup spot outside of Umberger.
- Once we lock in I can reveal your rosters on Canvas.
- Accept my invitation on Canvas to join the class. You will be joining as a grader so you will be able to enter grades.
- Create an “Anthsta” for Instagram (a fake instagram account just for this class) if you do not want to use your current Instagram account.
- Create a hashtag for your group. It must be unique yet easy to type and remember for your students. Test it on Instagram to make sure there are no current posts using that hashtag.
- Introduce yourself on your Anthsta with a selfie or collection of pics that let us know who you are and use the hashtags #anth101 #introductions #anth101ta #YOURGROUPNAME.
- Study your roster before Day One. Try to memorize all student names before Day One.
Your Core Responsibilities:
- Inspire students to do great challenges. This means doing great challenges yourself, or finding other good examples, and giving them feedback on early challenges to raise expectations and to give them a sense that someone cares and appreciates their efforts.
- Lead weekly discussions. Encourage deep and lively discourse. A mix of fun and depth is possible and encouraged. Don’t let people slack. If someone appears to be slacking off and not coming in prepared to discuss, take them aside and say something like, “Hey, I noticed that you are not participating much. I would like to see more effort and engagement in the future. Let me know if there is anything holding you back or making it difficult for you to fully participate. This class is important and potentially life-changing. We want you to get the most out of it as possible.” (or something like that).
- Keep attendance. Students will submit a notecard reflection at the end of each lecture. Keep this up-to-date. E-mail every student after they miss the first time. E-mail them again if they miss a third time. Encourage them and offer support.
- Grade challenges within 24 hours of the due date. This will typically mean setting aside time the day after your recitation to grade.
- Expectations are very high. I want the very best for these students. If you cannot perform to these standards for any reason let me know so we can find someone else.
Typical Discussion Sessions
- Let them report on their own challenges.
- Discuss Core Ideas from Class. Bring them to life. Share how the ideas operate in your own life and draw out reflections from others.
- Discuss the assigned video/podcast. This is new. I have assigned outstanding videos/podcasts which should light up discussion.
- Prep them for the next challenge. For this you should plan on completing all of the challenges yourself and come prepared to discuss it the week before their own challenge is due. If you do not have time, you can select a few outstanding examples from a previous semester and write a post about what makes it great.
Your Weekly Schedule:
- MW 8:30 Attend Lecture.
- MW 9:17 Lecture ends and you collect notecards
- MW Sometime before 5pm record attendance and e-mail anyone missing.
- Night before your recitation:
- Watch the video that they will be discussing, taking notes on possible discussion topics, scenes to re-play, and how material relates to class.
- If they are submitting challenges, read them and come prepared to celebrate the good ones.
- Prep like mad. This is your art. Treasure it. This is a fantastic challenge and a great chance to share the journey of learning with others.
- Schedule the full recitation in 3 to 5 minute increments.
- For example, if you have a W12:30 recitation:
- 12:30 Remind them of main ideas from lecture with your own example, funny story, something from the video of the week
- 12:33 Lead into challenges report by celebrating a few of the best.
- 12:35 Let them report on previous week’s challenge. Ask for funny stories, hard stories, and revelations. (You might even use those specific words and keep it consistent so they can prepare a “funny story” “hard story” or “revelation”.
- 12:40 Turn discussion toward the video and see what they got out of it. Let discussion roll until 1:00 if it is rolling.
- 12:43. If discussion is not rolling yet, play or remind them of scene X in the video and ask them to reflect on X from class.
- 12:46. If discussion is not rolling yet, play or remind them of scene Y in the video and ask them to reflect on Y from class.
- 12:49: Grab a “story from your pocket”* that relates. (Note: You should have 3 to 5 “stories in your pocket” each day, just in case.)
- 12:52: If discussion is not rolling yet, play or remind them of scene Z in the video and ask them to reflect on Z from class.
- 12:55: Another story from your pocket.
- 12:58: Another story from your pocket that leads into a wrap-up
- 1:00: Wrap-up, reminding them of core ideas from class and how they relate to the video/podcast
- 1:03: Introduce the next challenge.
- 1:05: Tell them about your challenge. Share what made it difficult, how you overcame the difficulty, and what you learned.
- 1:10: Show them exactly what makes a challenge post excellent. Show them a great post and show them what makes the elements of that post so good.
- 1:13: Take questions and ask them to share ideas about what they think they might do.
- 1:18: End class with a strong story or wrap-up … something inspirational or thought-provoking that can leave them a little stirred up or excited about what’s coming next.
- 10 Minutes before recitation: Remind yourself that this is not about you, it’s about them. Love them and they will love you back.
- 5-10 Minutes before recitation: Enter the room. Write a basic agenda on the board. Chat it up with students.
- Start right on time. Joke with people who come in late and call them out on it. Encourage everyone to show up on time.
- After recitation:
- Mark their attendance & rate their discussion.
- E-mail anyone missing or anyone who has shown 3 weeks of poor discussion engagement.
- Take notes on what they shared so you can continue to get to know them.
- Grade their challenges within 24 hours and post grades to Canvas
Week One:
- No class on Monday.
- Memorize your students using photo roster.
- Prep them for Challenge One. This means you will need to complete Challenge One yourself *before* your first recitation.
- Possible Day One Discussion Schedule:
- 12:30 Introduce yourself with a funny story
- 12:33 Review Syllabus and help them see the over-arching storyline
- 12:38 Transition with “Need a strong community to help us on the journey …” (or something like that) … Human Scavenger Hunt or other ice-breaker
- 12:53 Introduce each other & why this class might matter to them (all humans in all times in all places)
- 1:08 Introduce the first challenge – Talking to Strangers
- 1:10 Tell them about your challenge.
- 1:15 Show them a great example.
- 1:18 Wrap up with a reminder of why it matters … the world is not something to stand back from and just observe. It is a dance worth joining. Something like that.
- Students are required to post an Instagram introduction by the end of the day on Friday. This is worth 25 points. Make sure all students are in your clan and that they have posted. Post their grades by Saturday night at midnight.