CS@UCSB Teaching Assistant Orientation

1. Bryce Boe Fall 2011 http://cs.ucsb.edu/~leadta CS@UCSBTeaching AssistantOrientation

2. Who are we? • Bryce Boe (bboe@cs) • Fourth Year Ph.D. Student (Computer Science Education) • Current Lead TA (previously 2009-2010) • BS in CS at UCSB • Professor Tim Sherwood (sherwood@cs) • Associate Professor, ArchLab • Ph.D. from UCSD

3. Outline • My role as the lead TA • Teaching assistant roles • Expectations • Teaching assistants’ rights • Your first discussion section • To do items

4. My role as the Lead TA • Train new TAs in the department via CS501 • Prepare and review midterm TA evaluations • Review end of quarter TA evaluations • Be available for TA consultations • Ensure new TAs are video taped and attend the following video consultation

5. CS501 • 10 week mandatory seminar for TAs • Meets at 5PM on Wednesday • Covers a variety of topics closely following the UCSB TA Handbook • Come prepared and eager to learn

6. TA Evaluations • Mid-quarter online TA evaluations sent out to undergrads • Official end of quarter TA evaluations • Questions: • Knowledge of subject matter • Preparation of materials • Communication skills • Board work

7. TA Consultations • Come to me with questions • How can I make my discussion more interactive? • How can I encourage participation from more students? • I suspect a student of cheating, what do I do? • Come to me with TA related issues • Issues with students in your course • Issues between TAs in your course • Issues between you and the instructor

8. Video Consultation • TAs who are leading discussion section must have a video consultation • One discussion section will be video recorded • Later a university video consultant will review and discuss your section • Very useful!

9. Teaching Assistant Roles • Discussion Section / Lab • Grading • Office Hours • Other Responsibilities

10. Discussion sections • 50 minute period lead by a single TA • Topics • Additional lecture material • Current course project overview / discussion • Used primarily in upper division courses (100 level) • Optional student attendance (typically) • Requires coordination with professor on what to cover

11. Labs • 50 minute period lead by one or more TAs • Students complete lab (usually with partners) in the allotted time • TAs efficiently field students’ questions • Used in lower division courses (<100 level) • Requires coordination with professor on what the lab requirements are

12. So, what's the difference? Discussion: • 50 minutes of “lecture” • You present material, answer questions or review lecture • Group attention Labs: • 5-10 minutes of explanation • You help students with a structured assignment • More individual attention

13. Grading • How to grade fast and equitably • Establishing a late policy and enforcing it • Grading petitions • Cheating

14. Office Hours • Time periods in which you must be available to the students • Typically 2-4 hours a week • Be on time • Don’t leave early

15. Other Possible TA Responsibilities • Answering emails • Attending lecture • Holding review sessions • Providing feedback to instructor • Being available until grades are submitted • Handing out TA Evaluations

16. Expectations • Things students expect of their TAs • Things professors expect of their TAs • Things you can expect from the professors • Things the TA may observe from students

17. Student Expectations of TAs • Leadership • Respect • Timeliness • Approachability*

18. Professor Expectations of TA • Promptness • Communication • Contract fulfillment

19. Teaching Contract • Agreement between you and professor on your responsibilities • Review to ensure you wont be overworked • Revise if necessary

20. TA Expectations of Professor • Knowledgeable • Weekly meetings • Busy • Approachable

21. Things a TA may observe from students • Challenging • Lack of attendance • Eating, sleeping, reading, texting in class • Asking for answers • Requests for extensions • Requests for grade changes • Cheating

22. Teaching Assistant Rights • 50% TA Cannot be asked to work more than • 8 hours per day • 20 hours per week (on average) • 40 hours in any one week • 220 hours per quarter • Time includes: • All TA responsibilities including attending lecture, preparation time, and TA training (CS 501)

23. TA Union – UAW Local 2865 • www.uaw2865.org • Represents over 12,000 ASEs in the UC • Negotiates contract for wages and benefits • All TAs paid the same across the university • GSHIP provides some vision and dental • Fees • All TAs pay 0.89% fair share fee • Members pay 1.15% for dues

24. Your first discussion • Preparation • The first discussion tips • Content

25. Preparation • Find the room • Does it have a projector? • What keys do you need? • Allot ~2 hours for preparation of material

26. The first discussion tips • Be confident, you’re awesome • Introduce yourself • State your expectations • Write outline on board, if appropriate • Engage students, lectures are boring (yawn) • Make eye contact

27. Content • Coordinate with professor on content • Prepare notes in advance • Outline objectives

28. CS501 To do • Enroll in CS501 • Sign up for seminar’s google group • https://groups.google.com/group/cs501_f11/ • Check google group for Wednesday’s Assignment • Be at Phelps 2510 next Wednesday by 5PM

29. TA to do • Physically meet with class instructor • Establish a good communication pattern • Schedule a weekly meeting • Inform them up front of any time off you’ll need • Go over the Teaching Assistant contract and ensure that the instructor signs it • Prepare for your first discussion section / lab section

30. Other Important Information

31. Incentives to be an awesome TA • Personal satisfaction • Student appreciation • TA awards • Lead TA position

32. ? Questions?