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How to Effectively Deploy Your Virtual Teaching Assistant or Academic Coach

Teaching Assistants in an online classroom

An Academic Coach’s primary purpose is to provide instructional support to a faculty member in their online courses, thus adding another layer of support for students. While the Academic Coach is not an academic advisor, tutor, or personal mentor; they may perform a variety of tasks approved by the faculty of record for their assigned course. 

Though this blog will break down some effective ways to deploy our virtual teaching assistants to assist in managing student demands within an online course. However, it’s important to note that each faculty member will assign tasks based on their needs.

Read on to learn more about a teaching assistant’s role in a college course and how professors can effectively incorporate them into their classroom!

The Hierarchy of Professors, Academic Coaches, and Students

Knowing the place and responsibility of all class participants is essential. The professor is in charge and has the final say of what happens within the course, and they must maintain a presence within the online course. But where does the teaching assistant come into play?

Virtual teaching assistants are there to assist the professor with their students, not replace them entirely or allow for the professor to go on vacation. Professors are the ones who should be in charge of all the learning outcomes, curriculum, and policy decisions; while their TAs may assist with facilitation and grading as assigned.

The professor will drive all activities assigned to their virtual teaching assistants.  This is reviewed in a pre-course conference call with all TAs before the course starts.  Additionally, periodic conference calls should continue to take place throughout the duration of the course to make sure the professor and TAs are aligned and consistent with expectations.

What Academic Coaches May Do

Apart from establishing the teaching assistant’s role in your system, it’s important to make sure to have defined perimeters and routine communications. 

It is vital that the online course is ready for implementing virtual teaching assistants.  This would include making sure that each assignment has robust rubrics.  This is important for the student to understand the expectations and allow to allow the TA to grade an assignment in a consistent manner that aligns with the faculty’s expectations.  It would also be suggested that inter-rater reliability activities be performed to ensure the grading standards are met.

Academic Coaches should always acknowledge any student inquiries in a timely manner, even if the TA is not able to provide an answer.  The TA may need to ask follow-up questions to gather information to present to the faculty for a decision or follow-up. The TA should be a liaison between the students and the faculty.  The faculty may provide standard approved answers to common questions that may be expected from the students.  Some questions may be outside of the scope of the TA and require the student to be directed to another department such as Technical Support or the Registrar.

Increase Your Students’ Learning Ability With Instructional Connections

We are proud to be the only company in America that provides this kind of high-quality virtual instructional support to universities. Our academic coaches currently help over 50 online college programs and 50,000 students in need — all at the instruction and supervision of your professors.


If enrollment demands are extending your professors and they need assistance with the scaling of your online programs and courses, contact the Instructional Connections team today!

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Time-Saving Hacks for Teachers

Time-Saving Hacks in education

Time management is an essential part of everyone’s life. This is especially true for academic coaches with specific duties requiring careful planning. Many faculty report working around 54 hours per week, 

One can find numerous time management advice and solutions that could help with the organization of tasks. Yet, there is no magic recipe for managing time for any specific area.

Here are some hacks that can help academic coaches stay organized and manage their time better. 

Organization is Key

Time management means organizing all aspects of your life at home and work. Ideally, you’d want to do all tasks structured and efficiently. To have uninterrupted flow in your daily tasks, arrange and label items in your working environment in a way that structures your day but does not overwhelm you. 

To-do List and Routine Tasks

Check which of your routine tasks can be automated, delegated, or adjusted. Identify the most important ones and find ways to deal with the rest to save time.

Little organizational reminders like writing down your to-do list to avoid forgetting something can help. Remember to write even minor tasks, especially if they are time-sensitive. Once done, list the tasks by level of importance and plan your day accordingly.

If you benefit from an Academic Coach or Teaching Assistant assigned to your online course, delegate some tasks to them, such as grading or answering simple emails.  Be sure to provide detailed rubrics and inter-rater reliability activities to ensure the grading will be consistent with your standards and expectations.

The Importance of Planning Your Day

Try to estimate how much time you’ll need to complete a certain task. Allocating sufficient time to complete a task and ticking it off the to-do list will allow you to promptly complete it and move on to the next. This way, you can focus on completing one task before starting another and getting your work to flow smoothly.

Avoid picking one task, completing it halfway, and starting on something else. This will only create a chaotic and unproductive day.

Utilize Technology to Its Full Extent

Technology was invented to make our lives easy. Use all the available relevant technology for your online course. Use online planners for yourself and reach out to social groups or forums to share best practices or resources.

Enjoy all the help you can get from relevant programs. This will make your job easier and allow you more time to complete other tasks. 

Procrastination Is the Enemy

Putting off things we don’t like doing for later is another way of wasting time and still having to complete those things. Finish the things you must do before the things you enjoy doing. Remove all possible obstacles interrupting you during working hours and obtain a tunnel-vision mentality – focusing on one task at a time. 

For example, people spend a lot of time reading emails and not replying immediately, only to re-read them so they can respond. Email notifications can interrupt your working process, so turn them off. Choose a time when you will read and answer emails so you don’t feel distracted and aren’t split-tasking, which will slow you down.

The Best Online Academic Coach for Your Distance Learning Program

Instructional Connections is a third-party service provider of high-quality, asynchronous instructional support services to colleges and universities that offer online courses and degree programs. IC provides “Academic Coaches” to institutions that offer online courses and programs with a highly effective, scalable, and affordable instructional model. This model enables the faculty of record to focus and manage their time effectively on delivering learning objectives and outcomes while allowing the institution to scale the course to meet student enrollment demands.

Contact us today for any inquiries you may have, and we’ll be happy to provide the information you need.

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What Makes a Good Virtual TA/Academic Coach?

Academic Coach working on a computer

According to data from UNESCO, more than 1.2 billion students globally had stopped having face-to-face classes by mid-May 2020. When the majority of students worldwide switched from face-to-face to remote schooling, the faculty’s workload increased. Syllabi had to be replanned because the learning methods were changing to meet online realities and needs.

But virtual teaching has been around for quite some time and requires a special skill set. This article will discuss what makes a good Academic Coach.

Characteristics of a Good Academic Coach

Whether you’re an online or offline teaching assistant, the role requires you to possess certain skills and characteristics.

Be Compassionate

Compassion is crucial feedback that affects the overall learning progress of a student. Therefore, it’s an important skill for an Academic Coach to have. Understanding the students’ struggles and the faculty’s needs is essential for successful collaboration. 

Be Flexible

Academic Coaches must be able to adjust to changes. Sometimes during online requirements, students will face various challenges beyond their control, like technical issues or additional questions. Academic Coaches must adapt to the student’s and faculty’s needs efficiently. That’s why flexibility is the second most important skill for Academic Coaches.

Be Highly Organized

Academic Coaches are there for support during online courses. The successful collaboration between the faculty and the Academic Coach depends on good organization, effective time management, and planning. Therefore, the third imperative for this role is proper time management and overall organization.

Be Able to Communicate Efficiently

Academic Coaches are the bridge between students and professors. Keeping a steady and efficient communication flow is vital for achieving the best results. It’s also essential to actively listen and connect with the students and faculty members. 

Best Tips for an Effective Virtual Teaching Assistant

We’ve gone over some skills that make an excellent Academic Coach. Now let’s go over the best ways to master the role!

Know Your Field

All Academic Coaches must have a good level of subject knowledge. Academic Coaches aren’t only there to provide instructional support to students but to help them with any issues that may follow. Also, as Academic Coaches aren’t only communicating with students and professors, it’s crucial to learn more about professors’ teaching ideologies, habits, and the communication methods they use.

Have Patience

Some people have it naturally, while others have to work on it – either way, it’s paramount. The role of the Academic Coach makes even the calmest person work on their patience. You must anticipate various difficulties, problems, and last-minute changes. But, in all cases, you must respond professionally. 

Learn More with Instructional Connections

Our team at Instructional Connections is dedicated to improving online teaching by assisting faculty and universities. Our services help educational institutions face the challenges and demands of online degrees and courses. We are known for our high-quality instructional support services for both colleges and universities. 

If you are interested in becoming an Academic Coach with Instructional Connections, please apply HERE.

 If your institution is interested to learn more about implementing our Academic Coaches for the online course offerings at your university or college, please contact us.

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The Elements of a Solid Distance Learning Model

students working on a Solid Distance Learning Model

With at least 2,500 colleges already offering online programs, it’s no secret that distance learning has become an increasingly integral part of higher education. Instructors and academic coaches have had to work hard to develop a good model for teaching in this environment. But it’s not easy.

There are many different factors that need to be considered when developing an effective distance learning model. This article will discuss some of the vital elements of a solid distance learning model.

Constant Email Communication

It’s important for instructors, faculty, and teaching assistants to always open their email channels. Communication is an integral part of distance learning, and many interactions happen through email.

If instructors and faculty members are not responsive to emails, it can create a disconnection between them and their students. It’s recommended to answer emails from students within 24 hours, even if it’s only to stay: “I’ll have to research that and get back to you.”

For coursework that spans a holiday, educators should still try to be available for urgent inquiries from their students. However, high holidays like Christmas or Yom Kippur need balance and a break to be honored. In cases like this, course-related correspondences might be temporarily suspended, but educators should still try to check their emails at least once daily.

It’s also essential for educators to have someone ready to answer on their behalf if they cannot respond within a 24-hour window. Teaching assistants and academic coaches are generally expected to take over answering duties if the educator is not able to do so.

Utilizing Other Means of Communication

While email is generally considered the primary way for learners to get in touch with their teachers or professors, it’s by no means the only method of communication that can be used.

At the discretion of the school, phone calls, online chats or messengers through the university’s website, Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP), video conferences, and web meetings are popular ways for educators to connect with their students in a distance learning environment.

It’s essential to learn and become adept with these communication channels to have another option to connect with students in the most effective way possible.

Addressing Technology Glitches and Downtimes

Since the distance learning model heavily relies on technology to work, it’s wise for educators and academic coaches to be familiar with many common glitches.

Educators are expected to have at least basic troubleshooting knowledge on some of the most common issues distance learning programs face. These include:

  • Internet connection problems
  • Audio and video issues with webcams or microphones
  • Login issues with the learning management system (LMS)
  • Problems accessing or downloading course materials

When any of these happen, it’s important to be patient and have a backup plan ready. For instance, if there’s an issue with the LMS, educators can still send course materials to their students through email.

When responding to students affected by issues and downtimes, having a calm demeanor can help build confidence while waiting for a repair.

It’s also vital that educators and academic coaches report any instances of errors or downtime related to the LMS. While issues with learning management systems should be rare, notifying the administration about them can help prevent similar problems from happening in the future.

Addressing Student Problems

When an issue emerges with or from a student, educators are expected to address them as soon as possible. This is especially true for students who are worried or upset about a specific issue.

Addressing the issue within a 24-hour window is ideal, though some problems will require more time to resolve. If that’s the case, assure the student through email that their concern is currently being addressed and thank them for writing about the issue.

Often, students who have difficulty with the coursework or feel lost during a distance learning program simply struggle to keep up with the pace. That’s why educators need to be as understanding and helpful as possible when addressing student problems.

Keep These Elements in Mind

The elements of an effective distance-learning model are clear and concise communication, utilization of multiple communication channels, as well as addressing technology glitches and student problems well.

When educators and academic coaches keep these elements in mind, they can build a strong foundation for their distance learning program that will benefit them and their students.

Instructional Connections specializes in helping colleges and universities optimize their online learning programs by providing online academic coaches. Contact us today, and our team will be happy to discuss how we can help your institution.
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How Do Teaching Assistants Work with Your Curriculum?

Teaching Assistants Working with Your Curriculum

It’s quickly becoming clear that online learning courses are not just a popular fad, they are here to stay. Virtual teaching assistants have become an integral part of the educational process for Instructional Connection’s partner universities to meet the demand for these courses and ensure the best outcome for students. 

While the specific responsibilities of your assistants vary depending on the institution and department, they all share a common goal: to help the faculty of record succeed in their teaching goals.

In this article, we’ll explore how virtual teaching assistants contribute and work with your curriculum and how they help the faculty of record succeed.

What Is a Virtual Teaching Assistant?

Virtual teaching assistants, also known as academic coaches, are experienced and highly qualified practitioners in their field of study. They have earned at least a graduate degree or higher from an accredited university. In some cases, they may also have years of experience working as a professor or teaching assistant at the collegiate level.

These individuals generally possess strong instructional, leadership, and educational backgrounds that contribute greatly to the overall student learning experience.

With the rise of distance learning, many teaching assistants can now work remotely at colleges that offer online learning programs. This setup enables many professors to get the support they need without being physically present in the same location.

What Are The Responsibilities & Contributions of Teaching Assistants?

The specific duties of your virtual teaching assistant will vary depending on the institution and department they are working within. However, there are some common responsibilities that our teaching assistants typically have. 

  • Monitor student participation and reach out to inactive or at-risk students.
  • Assist or direct students to appropriate support with technology or other items as needed.
  • Provide answers to content or policy questions following input from the faculty of record.
  • Provide assistance with logistical or personal issues pertaining to the course or assignments as outlined by the faculty of record prior to the course start.
  • Respond to emails and inquiries within 24 hours, including weekends (excluding major holidays).
  • Grade assignments with appropriate feedback within 72 hours of the due date according to Faculty criteria.
  • Participant in asynchronous discussions according to faculty of record criteria.
  • Monitor discussion threads; document, remove, and then notify faculty and student of inappropriate comments or posts.
  • Participate in weekly team meetings with the Faculty and/or Coordinating Coach via conference call or videoconference.

A main responsibility of our virtual teaching assistants is to monitor student progress. This includes tracking attendance, grades, and participation in class discussions.

Virtual teaching assistants enable faculty of record to focus on delivering their course curriculums and outcomes. Teaching assistants also allow many institutions to scale their courses to meet student enrollment demands.

Other Special Responsibilities 

Virtual teaching assistants generally focus on enhancing student retention and success, but they also have other specific responsibilities.

Virtual teaching assistants can also serve as a point of primary interaction with their respective professors. Depending on the number of students and virtual teaching assistants in a course, one may be asked to be the coordinator.

This coordinating teaching assistant may take on special responsibilities such as:

  • Coordinating multiple assistants’ work
  • Assisting in clarifying a specific professor’s course policies
  • Checking inter-rater reliability in rubric grading
  • Reviewing student performance in assessments and discussions

These coordinating teaching assistants may serve as “working managers” who directly interact with academic leadership and faculty members.

Your Virtual Teaching Assistant

As technology advances, more and more teaching assistants take on virtual assistant roles to support faculty members and their curricula. These individuals provide support to professors and students alike.

Their benefits are numerous, but perhaps the most important is that they enable faculty members to focus only on delivering their curriculum. This allows students to receive a high-quality education regardless of their location.

Instructional Connections assists academic institutions to improve their online education courses by providing competent virtual assistants for numerous degree fields. If you’re interested in learning more about our virtual teaching assistants, we encourage you to contact us. Our team of experts is standing by and ready to answer any questions you may have!

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Ensuring Effective Communication & Collaboration with Virtual TAs

Communication & Collaboration with Virtual TAs

In 2021, 75% of schools were planning to operate online. Beyond schools, however, even corporate learning is being held in virtual classrooms, with a 98% adoption among businesses. Both educators and corporate entities have begun preparations for virtual learning, from purchasing equipment to training teachers for distance learning.

“Instructional Connections is an integrated service provider of high-quality instructional support services to colleges and universities that offer online courses and degree programs. So we can continue providing this high standard of service, communication and collaboration remain at the heart of all our processes.”

Communication and collaboration between Academic Coaches (also known as Virtual TAs) between the university’s faculty and our Academic Coaches are crucial to maintaining a high quality of performance. It is also important in ensuring the clarity of discussions. Our Academic Coaches are tasked by the university’s faculty of record for the online course with helping students make connections through learning, which makes communication a central pillar of our services and our process. This communication and collaboration are things our Academic Coaches must establish.

Many Methods Can Strengthen Collaboration Between Academic Coaches, Faculty, & Students – such as:

Minimizing Silos or Isolation

Virtual teaching creates a bridge that connects individuals despite their physical distance from each other. Therefore, Academic Coaches (also known as Virtual Teaching Assistants or Instructional Associates) and the faculty of record should make every effort to minimize developing silos or a student becoming isolated.

For example, utilizing learning methods that require communication and conversation among students helps them forge connections with each another. Collaborative efforts between Academic Coaches and the faculty can also improve how the whole unit works as a team. These prevent them from working in isolation or only with one or two individuals. Additionally, they can reach out to their faculty and their Academic Coaches, strengthening communication between all members regardless of their department or assignment.

Open Lines of Communication

Our Student Support guidelines state that Academic Coaches should answer inquiries and emails within 24 hours. Even if the Academic Coach does not know the answer, they need to confirm receipt or respond that the matter will be researched, indicating that the student is being acknowledged and the matter will be addressed accordingly.

Receiving Feedback

Being open and receptive to feedback from faculty and supervisors gives everyone room to grow and enhance their performance. Feedback can be positive and critical, and both help Academic Coaches foster a culture of transparency and communication. It may touch upon areas that need improvement, and thus the Academic Coach can improve their approach to support the student on behalf of the faculty.  

With the students, there is a two-way method: grading and feedback, or answering student questions, is a helpful way to communicate with students about their work. For example, the Academic Coach can add details about areas that need focus and areas they did well in (in accordance with the faculty’s assignment rubrics and directions).

Communication Creates Connections

Academic Coaches have the crucial task of aiding faculty to bring students further during their learning experience. Therefore, they have to maintain communication to be aware of every step of the progress. This makes them better prepared and better adapted to each student’s needs. 

Instructional Connections brings Academic Coaches and faculty together to develop and maintain a learning experience that heightens every student’s academic background, leading them towards success.

Contact us today to find out more about our Academic Coaching Model or learn more about our services.

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Our Virtual Teaching Assistant Model | Choosing Success

Our Virtual Teaching Assistant Model

Our Academic Coaching Model adds a human touch to your distance learning environment, encouraging students to learn and persist with the demands of online and distance coursework. Students view their Virtual Teaching Assistants as a peer and respect the fact that their Coach has experience in the same field they desire to join.

Learn more about our Virtual Teaching Assistant Model below.

Step 1: Communication, Communication, Communication

The first thing our virtual teaching assistant model always includes is learning about our university partners’ needs. We understand that what each college or university needs is relative to their specific instructional support level, courses, and goals. We strive to understand all missions that each school desires through initial in-depth meetings, and we continue that communication throughout our relationship.

Each faculty member of record that teaches an online course provides clear expectations to their approved and assigned Virtual TA. Every area of support from a Teaching Assistant can be decided by the faculty and may vary from course to course depending on the faculty’s expectations.

This level of flexibility allows faculty to be in complete control of online program management. Many faculty members love the support they receive from their Virtual Teaching Assistants, and most faculty continually think of new and better methods to help educate students in distance learning programs.

Step 2: Our Recruitment Process for Virtual Teaching Assistants

We recruit, screen, pre-qualify and present Academic Coach candidates to our university partners. Rest assured that each potential candidate has been vetted and is available in our pool for approval by university partners.

Each institution identifies the academic credentials or experience required for its program and courses. Based on this information, Instructional Connections employs a variety of recruitment strategies, reviewing each applicant thoroughly for a match to the qualifications for each program. We then invite every Virtual TA potential match applicant to participate in our pre-employment screening process.

During our pre-employment screening process, the Academic Coach applicant commits to a 4-6 hour online pre-employment screening session. This covers topics like the roles and expectations of a virtual teaching assistant, basic principles, and best practices of effective distance learning, and working with a variety of Learning Management Systems.

After our advanced screening process, we perform a standard criminal background check on all potential candidates. Once a candidate successfully passes these steps, they are contracted and added to our pool of Virtual TAs ready and available for an assignment at one of our partner universities.

Step 3: Assignment of Your Virtual Teaching Assistant

Next, we work with programs and faculty to assign approved Virtual Teaching Assistant, or Academic Coaches to your courses and programs. We understand and listen to university, college, and even course-specific needs for distance learning. We understand the hurdles and benefits of online programs and distance learning.

Your Virtual TA is meant to aid the faculty member of record, or professor, that is teaching the online course. A Virtual Teaching Assistant can grade assignments, monitor and facilitate discussion boards, reply to emails, post announcements, and assist in additional day-to-day needs.

This gives your faculty the time to focus on student success, engagement, and course delivery. Plus, our Virtual TAs are flexible – your faculty member simply needs to provide them with instructions on their needs and expectations for the course, and our Teaching Assistants will deliver.

Step 4: Organizing & Training Your Virtual TAs

After the approval of a candidate and the assignment to a course, your Virtual TA will then need to meet with the faculty of record for the course prior to the course going live and throughout the course cycle in order to maintain communication and understand expectations. We independently contract, manage, and pay our Virtual TAs, handling all organization of staff matters. This eliminates the need for universities to add additional human resources and payroll overhead or hassles.

Step 5: Continued Support Throughout the Semester

Additionally, Instructional Connections provides continual support to each distance learning course where our Virtual TAs are requested and used. We are there throughout the course term for our university partners – from start to finish.

Our Virtual Teaching Assistant Model Works

Virtual Teaching Assistants focus on enhancing student success and retention in distance learning and online programs. In many graduate programs, we’ve seen retention as high as 80%!

Contact Instructional Connections today to learn more about our Virtual Teaching Assistants.

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How Virtual Teaching Assistants Can Help Your Distance Learning

Virtual Teaching Assistants Helping Distance Learning

The pandemic sparked an online learning boom out of necessity, but it addressed and highlighted the benefits of virtual teaching and distance learning. In some countries, distance learning is even touted as a solution to gain more interest in specific subjects, such as STEM.

Instructional Connections has always been at the front of online learning with our virtual teaching assistants for our University partners. But as virtual and online learning is changing and advancing rapidly, creating a more popular learning system that goes beyond a simple online platform, our virtual teaching assistants can assist even more in this changing climate.

Here are just a few ways our virtual teaching assistants can help in an online learning environment:

Email Communication with Students

Our virtual teaching assistants will answer emails within 24 hours, even if it’s simply to say, “I will research that.” or “I will get further information from the Professor.”

Many courses span holidays, and our 24-hour expectation is applied with common sense, as some course-related correspondence may be briefly delayed on high holidays such as Christmas day or Yom Kippur, while Thanksgiving holiday (which is a traditionally high-volume day in distance learning) correspondence will still be answered promptly.

Our virtual teaching assistants may scale back some aspects of their course assistance on the day of a national holiday, but will still check their emails at least once for time-sensitive questions. If they will be unavailable for 24 hours, they will always let the professor know in advance, though this is a rare occurrence.

Answering Course Content Questions

Your virtual teaching assistant can answer content questions from students as their specialty or professional experience will match with course content or subjects.

Additionally, in a weekly meeting between your virtual teaching assistant and the faculty of record, answers can be approved in advance or additional material provided to help the flow of information be expedited while keeping accuracy. On the same weekly calls, grading expectations for upcoming assignments can be discussed to ensure that the grading standards are met.

Answering Technology Questions

Your virtual teaching assistant will quickly become familiar with the LMS to be able to guide your students through common technology issues. Your virtual teaching assistant will thoroughly read online manuals and resources available for your LMS.

Further, your virtual teaching assistant will easily assist students in submitting documents, locating online readings, and other routine technology needs. They will provide the first level of technical support, saving hours and frustration for the faculty of record and the student.

Reporting Technology Glitches or Student Problems According to University Guidelines

Your virtual teaching assistant will report any glitches or issues seen over a course duration. All glitches are recorded and addressed, whether strictly technical or a typo in the information provided. Problems within the LMS used are rare but can be calmly responded to as the class or student waits for a repair.

Errors are also reported in order to check on the same issue in other sections or future courses. Your virtual teaching assistant contributes to the goal of continuous improvement of all courses – which means their input, the faculty of record, and student input is valued.

Additionally, if a problem emerges with a student or from a student, your virtual teaching assistant can turn to their chain of command and the faculty of record. A timely acknowledgment will be provided to the student, even while further guidance is oncoming from the supervisor or faculty of record.

Grading & Assignment Feedback

Your virtual teaching assistants are also able to respond and grade student submissions within 72 hours so that students may benefit from feedback before their next assignment is due.

Our virtual teaching assistants begin grading early submissions as soon as they arrive, which ensures grades are promptly returned. All teaching assistants also familiarize themselves with rubrics ahead of time to assure more accurate grading.

Grading is assigned by the faculty of record. This means that grading is not simply following a rubric, but also through additional directions provided by faculty. This includes completing inter-rater reliability activities with the faculty to ensure that all grading with be consistent with the faculty’s expectations.

Our Virtual Teaching Assistants Are Here for Universities & the Future of Higher Education Distance Learning

Instructional Connections believes in bolstering the advancement of virtual learning through communication, knowledge, and teamwork. Our company provides University students with talented virtual teaching assistants who can adapt to educational needs and employ different resources to foster better distance learning results and success.

Contact us today to learn about our virtual teaching assistant services, and discover more about the high level of teaching assistance we offer our University partners.

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The Responsibilities of Teaching Assistants

Teaching Assistants in Online Learning

Online learning is not a new concept; in fact, educational institutions have long been offering online classes, with 17.6 percent of higher education students exclusively taking distance learning courses and a further 19.7 percent were taking some of their courses online before the pandemic in 2019.

But when educational institutions had to pivot in 2020, virtually every student, not just in the U.S. but in the world, were enrolled in online instead of face-to-face classes.

With this sudden change and the complications, one group of people has been invaluable to keeping everything flowing smoothly—teaching assistants.

The Role Of Teaching Assistants

Teaching assistants, teacher’s aides, or simply TAs provide support for teachers in a class. Their duties vary widely, from administrative support for professors to academic support for students.

But in recent years, the roles of teaching assistants have increased, making them pivotal in keeping schools operating. We outline the important responsibilities teaching assistants have taken up recently below.

1. Teaching Assistants Have Offered Targeted Support For Students

Professors already have a challenging job. They couldn’t have possibly monitored and provided support to individual students all by themselves, given the limited interaction they get to have.

In this regard, teaching assistants have provided the support students need. Teaching assistants have provided instructional support to the faculty – such as grading assignments per the rubrics and directions of the faculty, monitoring discussion threads, and answering emails.

2. Teaching Assistants Monitored Students On Discussion Boards

As mentioned above, it’s difficult for instructors to monitor all these. Teaching assistants have been responsible for monitoring interactions and answering students’ questions in these spaces.

4. Teaching Assistants Ensured Online Assignments Are Graded Properly

One of teaching assistants’ core tasks even before the pandemic was to help instructors grade assignments. Within an online course, assignments are within the LMS course modules and the assignments are submitted through the LMS. 

This helped keep things running smoothly and allowed instructors to test students’ understanding of the subject, which is essential in a remote learning setting.

Enjoy The Benefits Of Professional Teaching Assistants

With all that said, it’s clear how valuable teaching assistants are, whether classes are held online, in-person, or in some hybrid environment.

Make sure you can provide quality teaching through your online education programs with the help of teaching assistants from Instructional Connections. Our team of online academic coaches offers unparalleled support for instructors and their students.

Learn more about our services today.

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How to Maximize Your Virtual TAs for Distance Learning

Virtual TAs for Distance Learning

Just like everything else, teaching has been seriously affected over the past couple of years. Classes were mostly done online, and we’re just starting to go back to the traditional setting—but on a limited scale. Learning institutions are left with a new set of challenges to conquer.

One of the ways you can manage your online classroom better is by involving a virtual Teaching Assistant (TA). Doing so will lessen the stress of your teaching duties. Here are some tips on how you can make the most of a virtual TA for distance learning.

Class Preparation

Before the semester or quarter starts, get on the same page with your TA. Take the time to sit down virtually and discuss everything you need to discuss. This may include the following:

  • Setting goals
  • Delegating responsibilities
  • Establishing your working relationship
  • Discussing and learning digital tools and platforms that will be used
  • Setting class standards, deadlines, and rules

It would also be wise to meet now and then throughout the semester, as well as debrief after the course ends. During these sessions, share feedback in both directions and review the goals you set at the beginning.

Class Management

Handling a class pre-pandemic was already difficult, but it can become even more complicated when everything is online. Some professors, understandably, had a hard time learning video calling platforms, like Zoom and Google Meet, and many still do not fully understand how to utilize the features to their highest levels.

This is just one area in which a virtual teaching assistant can be very helpful. They can help with moderating classes by handling things like:

  • Discussion threads
  • Online grading and submission questions
  • Replying to emails or in-platform messages, regardless of which platform your University uses

Communicating with Students

Focus on lesson planning and other teaching duties by having your virtual TA in charge of announcements, email communication, and discussion thread moderation. Making sure your students are up to date may seem like a small detail, but leaving the responsibility to your virtual TA will make things significantly easier for you and smoother for everyone in the class.

Instead of sending individual emails and messages yourself, have your virtual TA do a group chat or a message board, as well as take over individual questions and email submissions.

Class Discussions

Often, there are times when the class discussion board is stagnant. Keep discussion boards active and engaging by adding your virtual TA’s trained voice into the discourse. They can add value to the conversation by:

  •  Asking questions to expand on the lesson
  • Sharing opinions, resources, and anecdotes
  • Challenging opinions
  • Encouraging civil discourse

At the same time, teaching assistants can evaluate and grade student work, which will be helpful if you have a large class or require a quick turnaround time. Find your professional and reliable virtual TA with the help of Instructional Connections.

We assign teaching assistants based on your instructional needs so they can support you correctly throughout the semester in exactly the way you require.

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P.O. Box 223696,
Dallas, Texas 75222-3696

Phone: +1 888-221-2418
Fax: +1 877-663-3439
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