TA giving lectures??

[amorei]

Hi there, I am a first semester BSN student and so far it goes well. As you all know, it's a big adjustment, NCLEX type questions and everything. I really appreciate our professors trying to help and don't miss lectures (lots of info, VERY helpful when it comes to exams). However, in one of my classes, over the past few weeks, a TA, not the teacher, has been given lectures. And let me tell you, she is not good. The teacher is there all class long, the the TA basically reads all the information from teacher's power points and doesn't elaborate, doesn't discuss anything. Her lectures are super dry and I am starting to wonder what's the point of showing up for class if I don't learn anything new, I can read from PP by myself. So my question is, is it even legal for TA to give lectures instead of the teacher? I mean they are helpful when it comes to grading exams and stuff, but it doesn't feel like it's their job. And frankly, I don't feel like the money I pay for class even worth it anymore when I can get the same info sitting at home and reading my textbook. The teacher herself is wonderful, I enjoyed the class a lot. But now I don't even feel like going. The exam is coming up and it looks like the TA will "lecture" the whole time. Any suggestions?

[elkpark]

Is it "legal"? Please. Teaching assistants are graduate students who are working as TAs as part of their graduate education, learning to teach (which is why your professor is sitting in on the lectures, and coaching and giving her/him feedback privately). Your nursing education depends in large part on people who have no particular reason to do so helping you with your education by allowing you practice stuff on them, much more important and risky stuff than classroom lectures. I would encourage you to keep that in mind and cut this person some slack. Best wishes!

[zzbxdo]

Funny how there are posts for random Internet strangers and not the direct source aka your school of choice that you spent several days/week at.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

There are no laws governing this I hate to inform you. What I'm assuming is this is a student and is needing to get some teaching hours, much like you will be a nursing student at clinical needing clinical hours and will be practicing on patients. Hopefully the patients will welcome you practicing on them. You are in college and need to be able to take some responsibility for yourself and if you don't understand something, ask.

[amorei]

We ask questions, she doesn't respond. That's the problem. Teacher's lectures are 80% based on EXTRA material SHE gives in class, not the textbook. TA doesn't provide these extras. But I will figure something out, I like your comparison to us being nursing students, that does make sense. Thanks.

[amorei]

What is wrong with giving advise to "strangers"? People asked, I answered the best way I could. And I don't post the name of my school because, as they teach us from the beginning, internet is not private, you never know who will read you posts and that might bite you in the *ss someday.

And I spent 3 years in that school, not just a few week. Anyway, what difference does it make?

[Leonardsmom,LPN]

For questions that are not being answered in lecture, have you gone to your instructor with them during office hours or by any other route that your instructor has put into place? Definitely make use of those resources.