Creating Engaging Learning Environments in Mega Classes

In this participation-based workshop, you will take part in a unique professional development activity designed to enable you to train your former undergraduate general education students to become teaching assistants (TAs) capable of implementing instructional strategies proven to move students from a passive role to an intellectually active role in the LECTURE portion of your class. This combined professional development and general education undergraduate teaching assistants program (which are all part of the larger Ambassadors Program at UofA), are being used to transform the teaching of a ``mega'' introductory science courses with enrollments of 750 or more. Gen. ed. students participating in this ``Ambassador Program'' have gone on to pursue a minor degree in Astronomy, some are creating curriculum and doing research on the teaching and learning in mega classes, while another is pursuing an advanced degree in science education. Active audience participation will be required--and it will be fun, really!!