Will Vasich, a teaching assistant (TA) for IME 142 Engineering Graphics, has been voted the “Best TA for the Fall 2004 Semester” by secret ballot of the 12 TAs who instructed the semester’s 330 students in the fine points of CADKEY ’99.
Will Vasich
An industrial technology education major, Vasich received an engraved pen to honor the award. He has more seniority than any of the present TAs, and he’s the only one who ever taught in Kohrman Hall, where CEAS was headquartered before the Parkview Campus.
As a TA, Vasich supervises the IME 142 students in the completion of CAD project drawings and some manual drafting, and he administers tests and quizzes. “It’s fun,” he said.
Vasich said that he liked sharing his experience with other TAs. “I know a lot of the in’s and out’s of the program and the methods to help teach it, so I seem to help out a lot,” he said. “I’ve been here the longest, and I usually can help everyone out of situations.”
IME Professor Slobodan Urdarevik, lecturer for IME 142 and coordinator of the award, said this is the first time that a “Best TA” has been selected, and he intends to continue the practice each semester. “I wanted a contest to acknowledge the TAs’ efforts and to motivate them,” he said.
Slobodan Urdarevik
Urdarevik, in his second year at WMU, praised Vasich for working hard and for being dedicated to improving his teaching skills. One time Vasich visited Urdarevik’s class to get ideas he could use to improve his teaching style. “[Vasich] wants to continually improve,” Urdarevik said.
Vasich, 21, is presently interning at Schoolcraft High School in the Education for Employment building trades program. He is instructing high school students who are building a house. “I’m having a great time,” he said.
Even though his daytime internship keeps him busy, Vasich said he couldn’t resist “teaching one more IME 142 class” before he graduates in April. He is teaching a class that meets one night a week.
He first applied for a TA position after he had taken the course. “CAD and drafting are part of the industrial technology program, so I thought there was a good chance that I’d be teaching this at the high school level,” he said.
“Best TA for the Fall 2004 Semester” winner Will Vasich, seated at the computer, shows drawings to members of the last IME 142 class he will instruct before graduating in April.
Originally from the south suburbs of Chicago, Vasich came to WMU four years ago specifically for the industrial technology education program and for Western’s proximity to his home
His career goal is to teach shop, and he presently has a job offer, which he will probably accept, from a high school in Chicago. “I like it here in this area, but my entire family is in Chicago, “ he said.
Posts
