Let Them Shine

I may have shared in other blog posts that I use undergraduate upperclass men and women as TA's in all my classes.  I currently have 18 students helping me administer three classes, one of which has 200 kids.  The students chosen to be TA have all done an exceptional job in the class they are to TA or not considered for this important job.

In my HR class I have worksheets that I developed for each of the 16 chapters in the book.  Today we covered the recruitment chapter.  I had a class prior to my HR class which was going to make me late so asked the TA's to do what I do on worksheet days which is go from student to student and listen to the answer given for each of the questions to validate if right or wrong. 

I indeed was late and showed up at about the halfway point in worksheet review and instead of take over, I sat in the back of the room to observe my TA's handling this assignment.  Guess what, they did a great job making sure the answers matched my key and cleared up any confusion during the review and grading process.  When they were done I went to the front of the room and had the class clap in appreciation for the fine job the TA's did as they were collecting the worksheets because they shined when called upon to do so.  I then elaborated on some of the questions on the worksheet, especially those that I know are going to be on the first exam -- and told them so cuz I do not play "hot and cold" or "hide and seek" when it comes to being honest with students as to what is going to be on the exam. 

So the message today is, let them shine.  I find that when I have high expectations of students and give them a chance to deliver they usally do -- and when they do not -- they learn the most from me about their ability as a student and future leader in our industry.