Module 5 (Week 5): Summary

Summary

Upon completion of Module 5 (Week 5), you should have:

  • identified qualities/characteristics associated with effectiveness of UTAs, selected at least two qualities/characteristics essential to your specific responsibilities as a UTA, and explained why these are essential and how you have demonstrated/plan to demonstrate these qualities/characteristics.
  • become familiar with the concept of immediacy, its positive association with student success, and the verbal and non-verbal behaviors associated with immediacy.
  • reflected on how the qualities/characteristics of effective UTAs and implementation of immediacy behaviors might apply to your professional development and/or your future success.
  • gained perspective on the views and perceptions of classmates regarding the qualities/characteristics of effective UTAs and immediacy behaviors.

Takeaways 

  • Being aware of the qualities associated with being effective in your role as a UTA and considering ways to ensure your effectiveness is important to your success and the success of the class. These qualities/characteristics are likely applicable/transferable to other aspects of your life and your future success.
  • Teacher/instructional immediacy is characterized by verbal and non-verbal behaviors shown to reduce the perceived psychological and physical gap between the instructor and students.
  • Research shows that the use of immediacy behaviors is positively associated with  student motivation, cognitive learning, attendance, and other factors associated with student performance. Applying these behaviors to other situations you encounter in your life (e.g., professional school/employment interviews, employment settings, training settings, meeting new people, etc.) has the potential to increase your success.

Next Week

Next week we'll take a look ten of the many research-based principles of learning. There is a good chance that you will relate to some or all of them because you may have adopted learning strategies that are applicable to these principles.