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.
