Innovative thoughts and knowledge were shared when the CPUT Teaching Assistance Programme was evaluated at a recent World Café at Granger Bay Campus.
Cape Peninsula University of Technology is determined to enhance the learning experiences of its students, which will in turn improve their academic performance.
The university started training and appointing Teaching Assistants (TA) in 2014 in various faculties and the programme was well received and readily adopted.
The event was aimed at reflecting on the implementation of the Teaching Assistance programme at CPUT by reflecting on the experience of TAs and Academic Staff.
“The purpose of the World Café was to collectively evaluate the Teaching Assistance Programme by giving input, sharing knowledge, stimulate innovative thinking and to explore action possibilities,” says Xena Cupido from Fundani’s Student Learning Unit.
As part of their evaluation of the programme, lecturers and TAs consider the following questions:
- What collaboration stories can you share about its roaring successes or catastrophic failure? What conditions supported or got in the way of doing great work?
- What are the tensions, dilemmas, challenges you face as you work more collaboratively?
- What are the required values and leadership practices that would help build a stronger culture of collaboration?
- How would you describe the impact of the TAs initiative in the subject or department or Faculty?
The event culminated in delegates making recommendations to improve the programme.
