Graduate School

Research-based resources on improving graduate education and teaching assistant development.

Doctoral Education TA Development Research Studies Practical Guidance

Introduction

Graduate education plays a critical role in shaping future scholars, educators, and professionals, but it also faces significant challenges and opportunities for improvement. This collection brings together resources that explore various aspects of graduate school, from critiques of its current structure to strategies for enhancing Teaching Assistant (TA) development.

Whether you're interested in rethinking doctoral education, designing effective TA training programs, or exploring the unique challenges of online and blended learning for TAs, these resources offer research-based insights and practical recommendations. They provide a foundation for creating more supportive, inclusive, and impactful graduate education experiences.

Podcasts

Intentional Teaching: Rethinking Doctoral Education with Leonard Cassuto

Derek Bruff with guests Leonard Cassuto and Emily Donahoe

Why you might like it

This episode discusses ways doctoral education could be improved by making the experience student-centered, career-diverse, and community-engaged.

Books

Working Theories for Teaching Assistant Development

Greta Gorsuch (Editor)

Why you might like it

Gorsuch's edited volume offers theoretical frameworks and practical research findings that inform strategic TA development planning, supervision, and resource design.

Research Articles

What Contributes to Teaching Assistant Development: Differential Responses to Key Design Features

P.L. Hardré and A.O. Burris

Why you might like it

This study explores TAs' perceptions of professional development experiences and offers practical strategies for better TA program design.

Teaching Assistant Development and Contributions in Online, MOOC and Blended Synchronous Settings

M.L. Wadams and K. Schick-Makaroff

Why you might like it

This article provides practical guidance for TA development in online and blended teaching environments, with actionable checklists and strategies.

I continually update this collection as I discover new resources. If you know of other valuable resources on graduate education and TA development that should be included here, please let me know.