{"id":514,"date":"2016-10-31T13:05:11","date_gmt":"2016-10-31T20:05:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/biotap\/?page_id=514"},"modified":"2021-09-28T08:05:27","modified_gmt":"2021-09-28T15:05:27","slug":"getting-ready-to-teach","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/biotap\/getting-ready-to-teach\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting Ready to Teach"},"content":{"rendered":"

Interactions with course coordinator\/instructors
\n<\/span><\/h3>\n

The best way to find out what your responsibilities will be as a TA is to talk to the course coordinator or supervising faculty. Responsibilities will vary from course-to-course and instructor-to-instructor. The following list of questions can be useful in guiding a discussion between you and your supervising faculty member to help you clarify expectations and responsibilities.\u00a0Click here<\/a> to download the PDF.<\/p>\n

Expectations<\/span><\/h3>\n
Overview of Primary Responsibilities<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

Will you be required to:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • attend lecture, hold tutorial sessions, review sessions, or hold office hours<\/li>\n
  • create teaching materials, prepare questions and answers, or duplicate materials
    \npresent material in a lecture, facilitate activities, or facilitate discussions<\/li>\n
  • set up a lab, giving instruction, demonstrating procedures, and\/or cleaning up the lab<\/li>\n
  • mark student work providing feedback on assignments and exams<\/li>\n
  • assign course grades and keep class records<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    How many hours of work will be required per week, per term?
    \nHow many hours will be allocated for each of these duties?<\/p>\n

    You will be able to better plan your time once you know what your responsibilities are. Remember to keep track of your hours and let your instructor know right away if you are taking more time to complete tasks than expected.<\/em>
    \n<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Course Overview<\/strong>
    \nWhat are the course goals\/objectives?
    \nIs there a course syllabus available? What are the course policies and where do I find these?
    \nWho are the students (background with subject, level, class list, etc.)?<\/p>\n

    Preparation and resources<\/strong>
    \nWill you be provided with textbook, laboratory manuals or teaching guides?
    \nWill you be required to use a course management system or website for the course?
    \nHow will you get access to the CMS and what functions will you be required to use?
    \nWill you have access to and be required to read all class materials?
    \nAre you expected to prepare teaching materials such as photocopies of handouts for the course? If so, what is the procedure for making these copies?<\/p>\n

    How frequently will you meet with the professor\/supervisor to prepare for upcoming lessons?
    \nWhat is the best way to communicate with the professor\/supervisor?
    \nWhat do you need to prepare prior to the first class meeting?<\/p>\n

    Lecture Courses<\/strong>
    \nAre you expected to attend every class, or only during exams, or not at all?
    \nHow early should you arrive to class or to teach?
    \nWhat responsibilities will you have during a class meeting? (answering student questions, distributing materials, taking notes, facilitating activities, presenting lessons)<\/p>\n

    Student contact outside of class<\/strong>
    \nDoes the instructor\/professor hold office hours?
    \nAre you expected to hold weekly office hours? How will students be informed of these?
    \nHow should students contact you?
    \nAre you expected to conduct review or help sessions or tutor individuals or groups beyond office hours?<\/p>\n

    Assignments<\/strong>
    \nWhat kind of assignments are students expected to complete?
    \nWhat responsibilities will you have in regard to preparing, collecting, grading, record keeping, and giving feedback?
    \nWhat is the course policy regarding late assignments, grading, plagiarism etc.?
    \nWill marking guides and\/or rubrics be provided?<\/p>\n

    Exams<\/strong>
    \nWhen will exams be held for your course (midterms, final)?
    \nWill you be expected to create questions for any of the exams?
    \nWill you be expected to invigilate the exams? (Note: you may be required to invigilate a final exam in a different course.)
    \nAre you expected to mark the exams? What is the time allotted to complete the marking?
    \nWill marking guides and\/or rubrics be provided?<\/p>\n

    Record Keeping<\/strong>
    \nWill you be required to keep track of attendance, assignment, quiz and exam grades?
    \nAre the records kept electronically? Are the grades to be posted?<\/p>\n

    TA Performance Evaluation\/Feedback<\/strong>
    \nHow will your performance be evaluated (formal observations, peer observations, student evaluations)?
    \nWhen will evaluation(s) be given (midterm, end of term, when requested, if there is a problem, or informally throughout the term)?
    \nWho will have access to Student evaluation of TA\u2019s performance?<\/p>\n

    Course Evaluation<\/strong>
    \nWhat type of evaluation will be conducted for the course and the instructor?<\/p>\n

    Other concerns<\/strong>
    \nDo you need keys to the rooms you will be using? How do you get these?
    \nWho do you contact if you or your students have technical problems?
    \nWill you have the names\/emails\/phone numbers of other TAs assigned to this course?
    \nWhat is the procedure to follow if you are ill or must miss a class\/lab?<\/p>\n

    Keep contact info for the supervisor and other TAs handy so that you know who to get in touch with in case of illness or emergency.<\/em><\/p>\n

    Overcoming nervousness<\/span><\/h3>\n