Positive Impacts of Using Student Anatomy Teachers

Design and Delivery of a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) Program in a UK University: Experiences and Perspectives

“…The positive effects of such "peer training" have been reported previously in both chemistry and other fields. 3,17,20,21,23,30 The training offers the new GTA the chance to ask questions and become familiar with expectations in a less formal, and applied, working environment. Even with the additional support provided by the recruitment of three or four GTAs per year, a number of PG demonstrators are still required and are employed as usual on three-week rotations to work with and alongside the GTA cohort.…”

“…1,8−16 Both in the UK and abroad, postgraduate (PG) demonstrators in chemistry have been shown to promote safety procedures, technical teaching skills, and guidance in academic knowledge. 1,5,8,12−14,17−21 Involvement of PG students in chemistry undergraduate teaching has been welldocumented in other countries such as the United States of America, 10,11,20−23 Australia, 24,25 New Zealand, 26 and Canada, 27,28 in a variety of academic fields including anatomy, 3 biology, 11,22,29 engineering, 30 law, 25 politics, 2 and psychology. 31 While the titles of these postgraduate teachers vary, they are commonly referred to as teaching assistants (TAs) in North American universities, whereas they are known as PG demonstrators in the UK.…”

“…The employment of postgraduate students as teachers has been presented as a solution that benefits the students being taught, those delivering the teaching, and the faculty itself. [2][3][4][5][6][7]32,33 The importance and versatilities of PG demonstrators/TAs mean they are heavily relied upon by various departments because of their strong motivation, extensive specialist knowledge, and outstanding teaching proficiency, together with high adaptability and flexibility, and, undoubtedly, the relatively low cost of hiring. 6,7,32,34 PG demonstrators/TAs are also accepted and valued among undergraduate students.…”

“…The restrictions of growing teaching requirements and an increasing number of undergraduates have presented a challenge that higher education institutions (HEIs) in the UK are working to resolve. − UK HEIs are progressively hiring postgraduates (typically Ph.D. students) to provide assistance in the teaching of science undergraduates. In science degree programs in the UK, this teaching commonly takes the form of a demonstration in the teaching laboratory or practical sessions, as well as small-group teaching including tutorials. ,− Both in the UK and abroad, postgraduate (PG) demonstrators in chemistry have been shown to promote safety procedures, technical teaching skills, and guidance in academic knowledge. ,,,− ,− Involvement of PG students in chemistry undergraduate teaching has been well-documented in other countries such as the United States of America, ,,− Australia, , New Zealand, and Canada, , in a variety of academic fields including anatomy, biology, ,, engineering, law, politics, and psychology . While the titles of these postgraduate teachers vary, they are commonly referred to as teaching assistants (TAs) in North American universities, whereas they are known as PG demonstrators in the UK.…”

“…The crucial role played by PG demonstrators/TAs has received increasing recognition across a wide diversity of programs and disciplines. − ,,,,,,− The benefits of PG demonstrators/TAs in academic departments are many and invaluable, not just from an economic standpoint. The employment of postgraduate students as teachers has been presented as a solution that benefits the students being taught, those delivering the teaching, and the faculty itself. − ,, The importance and versatilities of PG demonstrators/TAs mean they are heavily relied upon by various departments because of their strong motivation, extensive specialist knowledge, and outstanding teaching proficiency, together with high adaptability and flexibility, and, undoubtedly, the relatively low cost of hiring. ,,, PG demonstrators/TAs are also accepted and valued among undergraduate students. ,,,,,,,, The PG demonstrator/TA will often have a different educational background or ultimate authority compared to the main lecturer, which can make them more approachable; previous studies report that students value their accessibility, specific knowledge, enthusiasm, and guidance. ,,,, PG demonstrators/TAs can be empowered by the choice of title for their role and can even act as role models for the students they teach. ,,,,, When evaluating PG demonstrators/TAs, students tended to describe them as “kindly” and “engaged”, rather than “formal” and “boring” in comparison to the main lecturers. ,, …”