I had two TAs in a class of 110. They were able to get through all of the iRAT grading while I administered the GRATs and they were also very helpful in answering questions during group activities. I might have been able to do as well with one TA, but I would want at least one for a class that size to help manage the teams and be able to be more responsive to questions. I have also taught (economics) many times to as many as 60, like this semester, without a TA, and it seems to be working okay. I can't get the iRATs back the same class period, but that doesn't seem to matter since they know how they did after the GRAT anyway. Knowing that I can't get them all graded frees me to be more attentive to the groups during the GRAT too. I would say to give it a try with a TA. It's also an educational experience for the TA, so you are teaching at two different levels at once. Molly Espey Applied Economics and Statistics Clemson University > Hello All, > > I have a somewhat lame question. I have always done my classes alone > without a TA because I've had quite small classes--I'm a language > teacher. I'm turning to TBL in the hopes of keeping up the small class > atmosphere while dealing with a very large class. Now I have to write a > rationale for why I need a TA. Frankly, when they told me this-- I > began to doubt whether I really do need one and am wondering if you all > can advise me. > > I couldn't get a scanner for grading the iRATs so I was hoping the TA > could be hand-grading those while I administer gRATs and start students > on other tasks. I also thought the room set-up (getting tables set up > for teams and putting them away again at the end) might be a little > tough on my own--though once it becomes a routine I'm sure the students > could do this. My TBL is all hand-made. No clickers, just laminated > A,B,C,D cards for teams to hold up. I do have the IF-AT forms--but > that's all the budget I've been given. > > I'm not as young and spry as I used to be, but am I just being wimpy in > thinking that I need a helper? Do I have good reasons for getting a TA? > > Thanks for your input! > > Christine > > -- > ******* > Christine Kuramoto, Assistant Professor: Medical English > Kyushu University, Department of Medical Education > Faculty of Medical Sciences > 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582 Japan > Phone: (+81)92-642-6186 Fax: (+81)92-642-6188 > E-mail: [log in to unmask] >