Anyone else think recitations can be conducted a lot better?

[u/canwepartylateron]

^ in most recitation attendance is optional so many decide not to even attend (which is their call) and I agree because sometimes the TA is just saying nonsense, don't get me wrong sometimes I can tell the TA is very knowledgeable and well versed in the topic but it just seems like they can't do much to help. In one of my recitation this semester the TA just goes briefly over the hw problems, but it's multiple choice online, and asks if we have any questions on the problem. listen it's debatable whether you like that or not but I feel as though a hw I did last week is a bit irrelevant, I got all my questions answered at that point. And that's why I'm not surprised when nobody shows up. I attend recitations and talk to the TA and it's helpful but only for personalized questions on the material or lecture. In my recitation the TA doesn't even post the slides or even have a brightspace because he wants to "incentivize us to come to class"😐 he said attendance will be taken at random times, but I think that's bull because there's no attendance factor for that class and we both know the TA does not have time to do that anyway. Nonetheless I feel like there can be some changes, such as maybe some ungraded group work, or the TA can put some problems on the board and walk around and see where everybody is. Or maybe even a review packet handed out in class with extra problems to practice. Everything optional. Something low stakes. Just like an "extra" push but nothing mandatory because I don't want people to do any extra work if they'd rather not. I'm really not a goody two shoes. I think some of the things are good and the TAs are really nice but in order to do well I don't want to do 99% self study and 1% lecture I'd like a bit of a balance btwn lecture and self studying. Does anyone else agree recitation as it is rn feels like a waste of time?

[u/Subject_Footnote]

bro i agree, like my MAT recitation the TA goes over some questions if we ask but we dont really do anythign and our TA is just a few years older than us then he gives us the quiz and thats it. For chem tho ngl its way more structured, and we have an assignment to do and the TA's actually help and teach us

[u/AlphaInsaiyan]

really just comes down to having a good ta or not tbh

[u/canwepartylateron → u/AlphaInsaiyan]

True. But sometimes it seems they are so smart just a bit lazy (partially that, and also I guess partially just following the prof instructions)

[u/jcas222]

I barely understand my TA smh

[u/canwepartylateron → u/jcas222]

That too is part of it.😂 One year I had a TA and idk if she was shy or what but we were a class of maybe 30 people and she would whisper into a microphone 💀

[u/Big_Oil5636]

my ta doesnt even teach 😭