For Teaching Assistants Spring 22 TA Assignments
Being a teaching assistant is an important job. It is a time for you to help students learn more about chemistry and to do so in a safe environment. It is a time for you to demonstrate to faculty and your fellow TA’s that you are responsible, reliable, and a team player. Employers in academia and industry value these attributes.
To assist you in developing these attributes, here are some requirements and guidelines.
- All TA’s will be expected to complete required safety training (both general and site-specific) before the first experiment of the course.
- Attend the weekly TA meeting (required). This should be a good opportunity to review what went right or wrong with the previous lab and share information about the next lab.
- Read the complete experiment (including data sheet and supplemental questions) prior to each lab. Also, review TA information and PowerPoint presentations if available. Make sure you understand the procedure for each lab. Your students deserve a well-prepared, confident TA.
- Plan to be present at the start of your assigned lab section and to stay until the last student is gone. If you have to be absent for all or part of a lab, please make arrangements with your fellow TA’s to have your position covered. Swapping out time is a good way to do this. Try not to take advantage of each other.
- Try to project a professional attitude and demonstrate professional behavior while you are in the laboratory. You are no longer “just a student” when you are a TA.
- Discuss division of assignments (pre-lab lecture, preparing/grading quizzes, and grading experiments) with your fellow TA’s in each lab section. Each TA should present at least two pre-lab lectures, prepare and grade at least one quiz, and grade at least two experiments. The skills you need for each of these tasks will serve you well in your future employment, whether you enjoy them or not.
- Record lab grades in a timely fashion, before the next lab occurs. Each course’s faculty coordinator will let you know the how the grades should be recorded (iLearn, Excel, etc.)
- Encourage your students to practice good housekeeping in the lab. This will make your job of straightening up after each lab much easier.
- Do not open waste containers until the lab actually begins. Make sure all waste containers are closed at the end of your lab section. Report any unlabeled containers immediately to the lab coordinator.
- Be accessible. Check your mailbox in the chemistry office. Read and promptly respond to student and faculty emails.