Year of Award
2016
Document Type
Professional Paper
Degree Type
Master of Arts (MA)
Degree Name
Communication Studies
Department or School/College
Department of Communication Studies
Committee Chair
Betsy Bach
Commitee Members
Alan Sillars Frances L. O'Reilly
Keywords
Needs Centered Training Model, Graduate Teaching Assistants, Teacher Immediacy, Supportive Classroom Environment
Publisher
University of Montana
Abstract
The effects of providing training for Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) in the implementation of immediacy behaviors on the creation of a supportive classroom environment are examined in this study. GTAs and their students served as participants in the research to understand the need for this training and this information guided the trainings formation. The training was based on Beebe, Mottet and Roach’s (2013) Needs Centered Training Model. The needs assessment indicated students’ perceptions of teacher immediacy was higher than self-perception and GTAs did not understand the meaning or effects of teacher immediacy on a supportive classroom environment or student learning. Thus, the training focused on providing GTA’s a base of knowledge to implement within their classrooms. Posttests with the students indicated an increase in both teacher immediacy behavior use and a supportive classroom environment in the majority of participants after the training. Interviews with participants indicated an appreciation for the training, awareness of the effects it had in their classroom and a desire for further training in this and other pedagogical techniques. Suggestions for future trainings and development of the trainings concludes this study.
Recommended Citation
Johnson, Leah R., "Training the Professoraite of Tomorrow: Implementing the Needs Centered Training Model to Instruct Graduate Teaching Assistants in the use of Teacher Immediacy" (2016). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 10673.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/10673
© Copyright 2016 Leah R. Johnson