Becoming an Effective Instructor: An Inquiry into the Narratives and Experiences of International Teaching Assistants

• In Event: AERA Graduate Student Research-in-Progress Session 3
  In Roundtable Session: Understanding Learning and Instruction Across Sectors: Design, Multimodal Literacies, Effectiveness Narratives, and SEL Competencies (Table 2)

Abstract

In this Research-in-Progress (RiP) roundtable session, I propose to discuss a research project that explores the narratives and experiences of international teaching assistants (ITAs) as they aim to become effective instructors in Canadian universities. While there is growing research on how ITAs face unique challenges and obstacles as they teach or learn to teach in North American classrooms, there is little exploration of ITAs' narratives and perspectives about effective teaching. Particularly, there is limited research on the phenomenon of becoming an effective instructor as ITAs. Using a research process informed by philosophical hermeneutics, I aim to share my initial findings, understandings, and learnings from the project. I also aim to gather any further advice/feedback that may help me to advance my understandings about the complex phenomenon of becoming an effective instructor through the exploration of ITAs' narratives and experiences.

Author

• Muhammad Adil Arshad, University of Calgary