I've been teaching a class (trigonometry at a college) for four weeks, and i'm finally at a point where i've established a routine for procedures and feel comfortable for asking advice.

it's honestly a mess cuz of the format of the class decided upon by the course coordinator. Students are supposed to watch premade videos before class that each them the material, and they only come one day a week (monday or wednesday) where i reinforce their understanding by going over problems. i understand that its not normal teaching, and more similar to a recitation class. a lot of students don't watch the videos, i completely understand it, they're busy and have to do so much virtually that they're overwhelmed.

right now when i'm working through the problems i ask them for any volunteers, and then try to take a poll of the class. my dad, whose also a teacher at a college, suggested calling on people instead to get them to be more engaged and think more about the material, but ik some people have anxiety and this could make them uncomfortable in the classroom setting.

so what are some things u wish your teachers had done or some things you did that made you unhappy or uncomfortable?

Give extra credit for each practice problem someone can solve in-class. This will provide some form of enticement.

You can take it a step further and always have enough problems on the board for every student to gain their extra credit, and make it so you can only get a maximum amount per class(lets says 2 points). Physically keep count (check off names) of people who participate and then start calling up names for the students missing out towards the end.

This is something one of my pre-calc professors did. I personally hated the concept, cause I suck at math and hate going up to suck in front of everyone else, but it helps with them grades. He told me people who were failing have passed his class off extra credit alone.

@Masterstothemax_2

You wanted a Gucci bucket hat avi?

Give them better grades

I was just trolling, thanks tho!

Last TA who killed someone got kicked out, but I'll keep that in mind. I might be able to start a fire

Cancel class for the rest of the semester

It's really just become grown up daycare huh

How do I reach these keeeeeeds

Make it like school of rock

for me, I hate it when teachers ask the students or call on students when the class is virtual. Mostly no one is gonna speak up and it'll just be awkward silence when no one does. Just work through the problems and just ask "any questions" after some problems. Thats what my university math professor does. Also when he finishes the lecture. He just hangs out in the zoom for the students that have questions

This really the best thing to do, virtual spaces and real life s*** don’t work the same

lmaoooo i'd like to think i help a lil bit but if i were one of my students i'd feel so f***ed over. they'd honestly get a better experience going through Khan Academy and talking to a me or a tutor for a few hours a week in person

how do u teach ur class?

you teaching at university of illinois? While I was a student there a physics TA I had kidnapped and killed a girl like a semester after I had him. S*** was crazy. Serving life in prison now. Or you just f***ing around

Make them turn their cameras on for Zoom. I'm in college and all my friends and I will just keep our camera off and go back to bed if the professor doesnt require it

don't give out mandatory homework.

i might've said this in OP but I essentially meet with 1/2 of the class one time per week in-person (so 1/2 on Wednesday and 1/2 on Monday). they're supposed to learn through videos posted before class. in class I'm supposed to aid their understanding by working through problems and answering any questions they may have. if they can't come then they join the class virtually or watch a recorded video after class.

in terms of how i run the class, currently i'm calling on students and if they give a good attempt (anything besides idk) i'll give them a bonus point. for students attending virtually i'm more lenient and usually just let them answer whenever they feel comfortable. I realize calling on students can make them feel uncomfortable but it gives me a better idea of when the class is struggling to understand a concept than letting them volunteer.

ohhh its a hybrid class. I imagine it was just all virtual

i feel so conflicted on mandatory stuff. on one hand, the students def need the practice and ik 80% of them wouldn't do it if it wasn't required, but it's so f***ed to make people, many of whom are working and/or have mental health issues work so hard every week :(