Prompted by the CCRP mission to raise interaction and intensity in large core curriculum courses, the Government department embarked on a mission to determine how to best engage their students in introductory courses. They began by asking questions: How do you help students take a more active role in their learning in large courses? How do you maximize opportunities for questioning and discussion?

To answer these questions, the department decided to refine the roles of TAs in relevant courses by intentionally involving them in designing the discussion sections. The pilot introductory course, "Comparative Political Systems," provides a general introduction to the concepts and analytical skills essential to the study of political science. Due to the importance of the course in the Government curriculum, the department staffs the course with full-time faculty, supported by graduate teaching assistants leading weekly discussion sections.

The department and CNDLS organized a series of seminars for graduate students who served as TAs for the course. Two CNDLS staff members and a Government faculty member led each required workshop, which covered the following:

* Classroom Assessment, Grading and the Honor Code
This workshop covered such topics as responding to students' written work, developing rubrics and taxonomies, promoting academic integrity, handling ADA accommodations and Sexual Harassment guidelines.
* Discussion Sections and Small Groups
This workshop focused on introducing TAs to the College Curriculum Renewal Project, offering advice on how to make the most of their discussion sections, and working effectively with small groups.
* Teaching with Technology
This workshop guided TAs through a consideration of: strategies for incorporating technology in the classroom, uses for the Blackboard system, and technology resources on campus.

The combination of engaging materials in the syllabus, web-based resources, and a cadre of TAs who discussed teaching in the CNDLS-led seminars allowed for a dynamic mix of faculty involvement, TA involvement, and undergraduate participation in strengthening this core course in the curriculum.