Perspectives of graduate student teaching assistants on value and meaning in their role.

ABSTRACT: There is increasing reliance on graduate student teaching assistants (GTAs) in undergraduate education, yet the impact of this role on graduate students is understudied. Previous research has focused on tangible outcomes such as skill development, rather than how GTAs value or find meaning in this role. Our study used a phenomenological approach rooted in self-determination theory to allow graduate students to describe their own experience of being GTAs and how they found value and created meaning through their role. We conducted interviews with five GTAs and used thematic analysis to describe their experiences. Generally, GTAs found the experience to be an important and positive aspect of their graduate program, intentionally using the experience to explore potential career paths and find

SUBMITTER: Westwood NE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12369359 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature