Comments about this course written by former students
The following
comments have not been edited in any way, and all comments
received have been added to this page. If you would like to
contact current UTAs about this course, you can find their e-mail
addresses on the previous page under "Course
enrollment."
-Dr. Dini,
January 1999
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I had an intersting experience in BIOL 4301, having spoken with previous UTAs who were enthusiastic about their experiences in this class. I began the semester in an optimistic frame of mind. Unfortunately, my GTA was new to Texas Tech and to Dr. Dini's class. He expected me to do the tedious, boring chores while he handled the more stimulating and glamorous portions of the laboratory. Things were somewhat tense for a few weeks. We eventally arrived at a mutually agreeable division of labor and ended the semester as friends
I benefitted from BIOL 4301 in multiple ways (not just in conflict reslution). My public speaking and critical thinking skills were sharpened. My comprehension of basic biological premises deepened and broadened, but the greatest benefit was not apparent until the following semester. In previous lab classes, I blindly fumbled along, never knowing what I should study, or which concepts were important. After BIOL 4301, I sailed through lab, effortlessly identifying critical points and saving lots of study time by ignoring fluff.
In conclusion, I
wholeheartedly and unequivocally recommend BIOL 4301 to every
student who gets the opportunity to take this course.
- Angela
Mote, fall 1997
I was an
undergraduate TA for BIOL 1403 during the fall 1998 semester. I
am really glad I accepted the invitation to be an undergraduate
TA. It was definitely one of the most rewarding experiences I
have had since coming to Texas Tech. I learned more teaching the
lab than I thought I ever would. It is amazing how well the
material must be known in order to teach it to other people. I
learned so much about lecturing and teaching students. Being an
undergraduate TA not only helped me obtain a better undertsanding
of the biology that is taught in 1403, it also helped my speaking
and interpersonal skills immensely. Participation in this program
is an enlightening experience. It is definitely a different
experience on the other side of the desk!
- Jeremy
Dalton, fall 1998
Having recently completed my first semester as an undergraduate TA, I am writing to encouragge others to participate in this amazing program. As a Biology 1403 teaching assistant my responsibilities included lecturing, setting up experiments, designing quizzes and grading essays. These activities provided me with an opportunity to help fellow students and earn valuable credit toward my major. Furthermore, performing these tasks alloweed me to sharpen my understanding of many difficult biological concepts.
Before each lab exercise, preparatory sessions are held to review information needed for the upcoming week. In other words, Dr. Dini does not expect you to recall every detail learned in 1403. These sessions are productive and informative, but are conducted ina very relaxed atmosphere.
Overall, I had a
wonderful experience as a student enrolled in BIOL 4301. I
thoroughly enjoyed working with faculty and graduate students who
share my interest in biology. Additionally, the satisfaction of
helping other students succeed is a feeling beyond compare. If I
can answer any questions concerning the content of this course,
please e-mail me at 9168388@skytel.com. Best of luck. I hope to hear from you.
- Eric
Stupka, fall 1998
After having completed BIOL 4301
as an undergraduate TA, I would highly recommend the course to
anyone to whom the opportunity is granted. Being invited to
participate in this course is an honor in and of itself, and it
can be an invaluable experience to anyone who wants to put the
work in. Besides being an excellent way to work on participation
and people skills, it gives us as students the opportunity to
help our peers conquer material that is not only fresh in our
minds, but subject matter that we understand very well. Holding
the position of instructor as opposed to student also gives us a
chance to see what all of our instructors go through, and
appreciate it even more. All and all, being an undergraduate TA
was a very good experience for me. It gave me a chance to work on
things that a normal course does not ever touch on, and I
encourage those who are interested to seriously consider BIOL
4301.
-Chad Witt,
fall 1998
Being an undergraduate teaching assistant was
one of the best experiences of my undergraduate career. Not only was it a
great way to earn senior-level biology credit, but I was able to experience so
much more. I truly enjoyed working with my instructor and was able to
carry a large portion of the responsibility. I was able to teach,
make quizzes, grade, and work with the students. Working with the students
was by far the best part of BIOL 4301. Overall, being on the other side of
the desk is a lot more work, but the benefits are more than worth it.
Mike Speck, spring 2001
Upon being given the opportunity to
assist as an undergraduate TA for the 1404 lab, I was very honored and readily
took the position. Before doing so, I spoke with a few of my peers about their
experiences and they all seemed to highly recommend my participation. The only
“nightmare” they warned me about was grading essays after each test, but in
reality it is not that bad. It does not last too long and reading some of the
answers is actually quite entertaining!! I was lucky to have worked with a
wonderful graduate TA who gave me the freedom to decide how much of the
responsibilities I wanted to take on, including leading lecture, making and
grading quizzes, grading final papers, and interaction with students. Although
I enjoyed all of these things, I got the most pleasure out of feeling confident
in my ability to assist students in learning the material that I learned just
one year before. It was rewarding to be able to help even one student
understand the concepts of a particular lab. Leading a lab rather than taking
one, allows one to be more sensitive and appreciative toward future TA’s, since
it is easier to understand what all goes into preparing and administering a lab
session. The 1403 and 1404 Biology courses and labs are by far the most
organized of any that I have taken at Texas Tech, which made my experience with
4301 that much more pleasing. This course was a great learning experience and I
strongly suggest seizing the opportunity to take it if given the chance.
Lindsay Fish, 2004
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when
I first signed up to be a UTA. It turned out to be a great experience for me.
When I was taking Biol 1403 as a student, I didn’t really care that the lab was
trying to teach me to be a better scientist or teach me to write a scientific
paper. I just wanted a good grade. After being a UTA, the labs that I
previously thought were pointless made much more sense and I realized how
valuable they really were. Having this different perspective has taught me a
lot about how to approach courses like this one. I was lucky enough to have a
GTA who shared the responsibilities with me and treated me as an equal. I also
had students who treated me with respect but I could also joke around with.
This was a very good experience for me, and I encourage anyone who is given this
opportunity to take it.
Bobby Brown – Fall 2006
“The opportunity to teach the Biology
1403 course laboratory has really revolutionized the way that I think about
Biology and research in general. This class has sharpened my scientific skills
and opened my eyes to the fascinating world of research and teaching. It is
such a great feeling to actually teach students and pass on the knowledge you
have gained to the next generation. It is truly a fun and exhilarating
experience that I would strongly recommend. The intangibles and priceless
skills you gain and hone through teaching rocket your science skills and
knowledge to another level. If you like Biology, the Biology 1403 UTA
opportunity is an invaluable learning experience that you should take advantage
of.”
Sam Overley - fall ‘06
Working
with Dr. Dini as an undergraduate TA was a rewarding opportunity. I
think this was one of the best learning opportunities I have had has an
undergraduate because it taught me many leadership lessons. I was given the
chance to lecture pre-lab material and to make up quizzes. I recommend this
class to anyone with a serious attitude and a well understand of biology.
Students will always be asking you questions about the material so it is
important you understand the material. I thought that this class was time
demanding and I would not recommend this to anyone with a really really hard
scheduled. This is a wonderful opportunity for those outstanding students and
everyone can use three senior level credits!
BJ Benchamin - fall '06
Being given a chance to be an
undergraduate TA was definitely a very rewarding experience for me. In the past
semester, I got to really understand the background work that Dr. Dini and the
other TAs have to go through to have a successful lab for students. TAs must go
through the lab themselves to fully understand the lab and make sure there are
no problems beforehand. I was pretty amazed at how thorough the prep sessions
were. Being a UTA, I also got an opportunity to lead lectures, grade
assignments, and help students learn the material as well as help them “succeed”
in BIOL 1403. The best part was probably getting to work with the students. I
find they relate better to the UTA and tend to ask me more questions. Not only
did I feel it was helpful for the students but it was also very enjoyable for
me. It really is a great review of many concepts in biology I learned before
and really reinforces the information when I helped teach it to others.
Overall, it was truly a great experience. I learned things I didn’t think I
would from being a UTA. I would highly recommend taking up the opportunity to
anyone given the chance to be a UTA.
Hannah Tran, UTA fall 2006
I would highly recommend anyone
fortunate enough to be invited by Dr. Dini to be his undergraduate teaching
assistant to snatch up his offer. Even I, who threw the idea around in my head
for a couple of weeks because being outspoken is something I’m not, would
definitely do it again. If you are like me and have a fear of speaking in
public, then being an UTA for a semester will most likely get you over that
fear. What I found was that the UTA is actually a great help in the lab and the
students are just as likely to ask you for help as the graduate TA. I gained
valuable insight and learned to respect and appreciate the role of the
instructor so much more by actually lecturing, troubleshooting, making quizzes,
and grading essays. What surprised me the most was that I actually really
enjoyed giving lectures and engaging in class discussions. So, not only is this
an honor, it is a great opportunity to gain a rich perspective in teaching, hone
public speaking skills, and having a lot of fun. Also, Dr. Dini even provides a
marvelous lunch many times throughout the semester!
Nguyen Quy, UTA fall 2006
I felt privileged when I was asked to be
an undergraduate TA for biology 1403 labs. Not only did it give me 3 hours of
biology elective credit, but it gave me the opportunity to place myself on the
other side of the lab table and improve the learning experience of current
biology 1403 students while helping me better understand the concepts covered.
This was my first experience teaching in a classroom setting and I enjoyed every
minute of it. I had the advantage of recently taking the course so I was able to
use what I remembered from my lab experience to improve my students’
understanding of biology in lab. As an undergraduate TA, I was given a lot of
freedom not only by Dr. Dini, but also by my graduate TA in lecturing, preparing
the quizzes, and answering students’ questions. Working with the students was
the best part of this course as I was able to assist them in the laboratory and
the lecture portion of the course with my own experiences. I highly
recommend participating in BIOL 4301 to all that have the opportunity. The work
is well worth it!
Shruti Gohel, UTA, fall 2006
I very much enjoyed serving as an
undergraduate TA for BIOL 1403 this last semester. As an undergraduate TA, I
had the opportunity to develop my ability to communicate effectively with other
students. As a TA, you will be required not only to grasp complicated concepts
yourself, but also develop a working knowledge of them to the extent that you
can pass that knowledge on to others. Developing these skills in communication
is of utmost value in one’s academic, professional, and personal life. It is
very rewarding to work with younger students and watch them grow in their own
abilities over the course of the semester – a growth due in part to your
contribution to their education. Serving as a teacher’s aid also gives one an
opportunity to closely evaluate the learning processes of students; certainly
this is fascinating in and of itself, but it also enabled me, over the course of
the semester, to reflect back on my own experiences in the course and better
understand my intellectual development. Overall, serving as a TA for BIOL 1403
was a great experience - allowing me the opportunity to both invest in the
education of others and gain insights into my own learning processes.”
David Kidwell - Fall 2006 UTA
Being an UTA for biology 1403 lab was a
great experience. I had a chance to learn a lot during each lab preparation. I
thought it was a little hard to grade the essays at the beginning. I wanted
the grades to reflect the understanding of the students and sometimes that is
not something easy to do. The best part was the contact with the students.
It was good to be able to help them out, to learn from their questions and to
see things in a different perspective. I had a chance to lecture, to do
demonstrations and grade papers. Dr. Dini is very friendly and helpful and it
was really a pleasure to work with him and with the others UTAs and TAs. I
would recommend this experience to anyone who receives the opportunity. It is
definitely worth the time.
Dulce Schulmeyer - Fall 2006 UTA
Being a UTA for the BIOL 1403 Lab was a
very rewarding experience. I understood the material you are supposed to be
learning in this lab so much better by taking it again as a UTA. When you
aren't as stressed by the class you can actually enjoy some of the experiments
you get to do in the lab. I also liked being on the other side of the
classroom. It is very rewarding to be able to help students, especially when
you know exactly what they are going through. Before this, I had never done
much teaching before and now I understand how hard it really is sometimes.
Also, you have no idea how much preparation goes into every lab until you are
actually involved. Because of this experience, I will be more understanding of
all my TA's in future labs. I really liked this class and I enjoyed getting to
know some of the TA's and Dr. Dini better. I would absolutely recommend taking
this class to anyone who is privileged enough to be given the chance.
Jade Booher, Fall 2006
This undergraduate TA
experience has been fantastic. At first I was a little apprehensive. But now
that is over, I can look back and say that it has been one of the best
undergraduate experiences I have had. The best part was grading the essays and
teaching. I enjoyed both. It was fun teaching the students. I guess because you
are the grader and the one in charge. Although, sometimes it can be a challenge
because every student has a different need. Furthermore, each student learns
differently. So, one has to find a middle ground and make sure that the quizzes
are not unfair to some students. I learned a lot: from knowing what is expected
in an essay to learning how to interact with the students. Even though at times
it can get hectic because off all the other classes. The time is definitively
worth it.
It is amazing to be on the side of the TA, because one makes the quizzes and
does not have to take them. Anyway, it has been exciting to participate in this
type of class. It has given me something else to consider in my future. I would
definitively recommend this class!
Noemi Guerrero, UTA Fall 2006
I felt very privileged
when I was asked to become an undergraduate TA for BIOL 1403. I found the
entire experience extremely rewarding and hope it to be beneficial to my future
endeavors. It helped me obtain a more clear understanding of all labs, and
given the opportunity, I was allowed to lecture various portions. Working
with a knowledgeable Graduate TA made the experience all the better, and the
essay grading periods I found to be a good review of previously learned
coursework. All in all, I found this experience incredibly valuable and
would recommend it to anyone who does well in the course, and is passionate
about the subject material. All the work associated with the experience is
well worth the time.
Rajan Gadhia, UTA Fall 2007
I thoroughly enjoyed being an
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant for BIOL 1403. Not only did I earn 3
hours of senior level biology credit, but the experience was also truly
rewarding and one of a kind. As a student, I learned so much from Dr. Dini,
so having the opportunity to work with him was not one that I wanted to pass up.
I worked with a wonderful Graduate Teaching Assistant and participated in all
aspects of the BIOL 1403 lab - planning, lecturing, grading and so much more.
The essay grading periods were also an excellent review of previously learned
material. Overall, I strongly recommend this experience to anyone offered
the opportunity! It can be rather time consuming, but it is well worth it!
Melissa Bro, UTA fall 2007
"If you can't explain it simply, you
don't understand it well enough" (Einstein) That quote goes a long way
toward explaining the benefits of taking Dr. Dini's 4301 course. If
biology is what interests you and/or you intend to pursue a future related to
biological knowledge this class will serve you greatly. The time
commitment is significant but you will emerge from the course with a sharper and
more lucid understanding of concepts you thought you had already mastered.
In addition you will become markedly more fluent in speaking the language of
biology through interactions with your students. Another advantage of the
experience is by observing first hand how instructors prepare for teaching a lab
you will undoubtedly see an increase in your personal performance and efficiency
in your own lab courses. You will master the best way to retain important
information from the lab while eliminating unnecessary digressions and blunders.
All in all the course will surprise you with how much personal learning takes
place in the process of teaching others.
Eric Chambers, UTA spring 2008