Supporting Academic Career Pathways for Graduate Student Instructors through Targeted Educational Development

This study investigated the role of Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) in higher education and focused on their self-efficacy, pedagogical training, and performance. Given the expanding employment of GSIs and the influence of their teaching efficacy on undergraduate education, this research examine...

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Main Authors: James E. Gentry, Shannon Stoker, Lesley Leach, Aimee Shouse
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Park University 2025-06-01
Series:InSight
Subjects:
Online Access:https://insightjournal.park.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Gentry-et-al._Article-6.pdf
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author James E. Gentry
Shannon Stoker
Lesley Leach
Aimee Shouse
author_facet James E. Gentry
Shannon Stoker
Lesley Leach
Aimee Shouse
author_sort James E. Gentry
collection DOAJ
description This study investigated the role of Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) in higher education and focused on their self-efficacy, pedagogical training, and performance. Given the expanding employment of GSIs and the influence of their teaching efficacy on undergraduate education, this research examined the effectiveness of a structured professional development program designed to enhance GSIs' teaching capabilities. Quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to assess GSIs' self-efficacy through surveys, exit slips, and student evaluations to gauge the educational impact. The findings indicated a notable and significant increase in GSIs' self-efficacy post-intervention, with positive feedback on teaching practices from undergraduate students. The findings underscore the importance of professional development programs in preparing GSIs for effective teaching roles, thereby improving the quality of higher education instruction and supporting the academic success of undergraduate students.
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spelling doaj-art-9224844dda9c4b7f8175089b24d6e8ff2025-08-20T03:22:26ZengPark UniversityInSight1933-48501933-48692025-06-012010.46504/20202506geSupporting Academic Career Pathways for Graduate Student Instructors through Targeted Educational DevelopmentJames E. GentryShannon StokerLesley LeachAimee ShouseThis study investigated the role of Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) in higher education and focused on their self-efficacy, pedagogical training, and performance. Given the expanding employment of GSIs and the influence of their teaching efficacy on undergraduate education, this research examined the effectiveness of a structured professional development program designed to enhance GSIs' teaching capabilities. Quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to assess GSIs' self-efficacy through surveys, exit slips, and student evaluations to gauge the educational impact. The findings indicated a notable and significant increase in GSIs' self-efficacy post-intervention, with positive feedback on teaching practices from undergraduate students. The findings underscore the importance of professional development programs in preparing GSIs for effective teaching roles, thereby improving the quality of higher education instruction and supporting the academic success of undergraduate students.https://insightjournal.park.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Gentry-et-al._Article-6.pdfpedagogical trainingprofessional development programself-efficacygraduate student instructorsgsi
spellingShingle James E. Gentry
Shannon Stoker
Lesley Leach
Aimee Shouse
Supporting Academic Career Pathways for Graduate Student Instructors through Targeted Educational Development
InSight
pedagogical training
professional development program
self-efficacy
graduate student instructors
gsi
title Supporting Academic Career Pathways for Graduate Student Instructors through Targeted Educational Development
title_full Supporting Academic Career Pathways for Graduate Student Instructors through Targeted Educational Development
title_fullStr Supporting Academic Career Pathways for Graduate Student Instructors through Targeted Educational Development
title_full_unstemmed Supporting Academic Career Pathways for Graduate Student Instructors through Targeted Educational Development
title_short Supporting Academic Career Pathways for Graduate Student Instructors through Targeted Educational Development
title_sort supporting academic career pathways for graduate student instructors through targeted educational development
topic pedagogical training
professional development program
self-efficacy
graduate student instructors
gsi
url https://insightjournal.park.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Gentry-et-al._Article-6.pdf
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AT lesleyleach supportingacademiccareerpathwaysforgraduatestudentinstructorsthroughtargetededucationaldevelopment
AT aimeeshouse supportingacademiccareerpathwaysforgraduatestudentinstructorsthroughtargetededucationaldevelopment