What do you NOT know about how students learn?

During your discussion sections you may encounter disengaged students. Individual reasons for disengagement may occur; however, Donald Harward takes a micro approach to understanding the structural and institutional causes of disengagement.

He argues: “What all this reveals is higher education’s failure to attend to the most fundamental of our responsibilities: the development of the whole person — intellectual, emotive/behavioral, and civic.”

From: http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2008/04/15/harward

Taking his argument into consideration, TAs may be able to reverse such effects by addressing each of these areas.

(1) learning and understanding – ensure that students understand that their opinion is important and of value
(2) self-direction and wellbeing – let students know that the university is more than academics; remind them of the support services available as well as sports and social activities on campus
(3) civic identity – encourage students to familiarize themselves with student government and the various clubs to join