Jared Russell

A Survey of Basic Instructional Program Graduate Teaching Assistant Development and Support Processes

For over 100 years, basic instructional programs (BIP) have played a pivotal role in providing undergraduates with opportunities to acquire sport-related skills and conceptual knowledge relevant to promoting their involvement in lifelong physical activity and establishing healthy lifestyle habits (Hensley, 2000; Leenders, Sherman, & Ward, 2003). Critical to delivering this instructional content is the graduate teaching assistant (GTA) who often serves as the teacher-of-record for BIP courses. Existing research clearly indicates that GTAs’ instructional effectiveness and overall confidence as teachers were greatly improved when graduate academic programs provided appropriate, consistent, formal and systematic instructional support, mentorship, and evaluation (Russell & Chepyator-Thomson, 2004; Savage & Sharpe, 1998). The purpose of this research was to examine the perspectives of GTAs teaching in BIPs maintained by American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education (AAKPE) graduate academic programs. More specifically, this research had two primary goals: (a) to examine the perspectives of their instructional roles and work environment, and (b) to determine their perceptions of the relevance and value of established departmental and institutional GTA instructional development, support, and evaluation processes. It is hoped that by obtaining and disseminating this information graduate academic programs can better develop instructional socialization and development processes within their respective programs that will assist GTAs in improving their teaching effectiveness and preparing for life after graduate school.

Flipping Health Sciences

Clinical Chemistry and Instrumentation is a senior-level course in the Idaho State University (ISU) Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) program. The aim of the MLS program is to provide required theoretical and practical knowledge for the MLS professional. Clinical Chemistry and Instrumentation involves theoretical and applied aspects of clinical chemistry and emphasizes development, validation, and diagnostic use of lab tests.