This fall, over 3,400 students will be in a lecture or drill that is led by a graduate assistant from the Department of Mathematical Sciences. To help prepare the GAs for this responsibility, the department organized a bootcamp last week for GAs who are new to teaching this fall. This week-long event was attended by 16 GAs in the Department of Mathematical Sciences and was facilitated by several faculty members including Matt Clay, Phil Harrington, Shanda Hood, Virginia Parkman and Melinda Schroeder, as well as David Crosby, a senior GA in the department. 

The activities were designed with the goals of cultivating the GAs' confidence to start their teaching journey, gaining familiarity with the teaching network and resources in the department, and building community and friendships to help support them academically. The GAs had opportunities to learn about the content and structure of several courses in our department, explore parts of campus, practice teaching and discuss various scenarios that they may experience in their new role. Many of the activities were adapted and developed using materials from CoMInDS (College Mathematics Instructor Development Source). Professional development for these GAs continues during the fall semester as well, with a weekly one-hour seminar.

Many of the participants were pleased and grateful for the bootcamp, with one writing, "I feel better prepared in pretty much every aspect than I was before attending," and another commenting, "I am very excited to teach the materials to my students as drill instructor." Others remarked that the most beneficial aspects of the bootcamp were the chance to work closely with one another and faculty in a relaxed setting before the semester begins, as well as the opportunities to practice teaching in front of a classroom.