Teacher Scholar undergraduates are in discussions and laboratory sections for larger classes including the 1, 3, 4 and 12 series, aiding the graduate instructor in answering questions from students regarding procedure or concepts taught in the class. In addition to walking around and checking in with students during the lab, teacher scholars are a great resource to discuss classes to take in future semesters, tips to stay ahead in classes and even resources to get research.
As students enter their sophomore year, they have the opportunity to become teacher scholars for larger lab sections in the college of chemistry. Such classes include Chem 1A/B,3A/B, 4A/B and 12A/B. Although there are few students who lead discussions sections, most will lead a laboratory section along with a GSI. Having experienced the class, teacher scholars are there to provide guidance on the procedures and concepts in each section. In addition to walking around and checking in with students during the lab, teacher scholars are a great resource to discuss classes to take in future semesters, tips to stay ahead in classes and even resources to get research. Furthermore, teacher scholars take a one hour class per week where they discuss techniques to become better teachers. This can include discussions surrounding positive and negative feedback, organization of review sessions or how to be more approachable for questions in class. It’s a great chance to review material from classes you’ve taken and to develop leadership and teaching skills! If you’re interested in becoming a teacher scholar, watch out for a form at the end of the semester sent out by Dr. MaryAnn Robak and Dr. Pete Marsden.