Cognitively demanding tasks provide important opportunities for students to develop an understanding of mathematics; however, they are challenging to launch and implement. The authors designed a secondary methods unit on launching tasks. Participants in the study were enrolled in five different methods courses. Using a noticing framework, findings…

This article focuses on developing guidelines for the effective facilitation of avatar-based group discussions. This qualitative inquiry is guided by an investigation of (1) social affordances of avatar-based discussions, with an emphasis on social and physical presence, (2) strategies to help establish rapport with other avatars, and (3) the…

A handbook to help teaching assistants (TAs) define and implement teaching goals and to present materials effectively is presented as part of the Teaching Assistant Development Program at the University of California at San Diego. A checklist gives 20 skills that a TA needs to develop to be a good teacher. Behavioral learning goals and process…