Questions tagged [teaching-assistant]
Questions concerning the use of graduate students as course instructors, usually under the supervision of a faculty member.
252
questions
12
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2answers
2k views
Is it okay to publish less and teach more during your PhD? (CS USA)
Background: I read this Quora post where someone mentioned they TA'ed pretty much their entire PhD tenure and took up extra TA spots as well for the same because they really liked teaching. The person ...
2
votes
1answer
279 views
Is my university using TA's excessively?
Currently, at a broad level, the scenario I am observing is as follows:
Tasks by Instructor (assistant professor, associate professor, professor)
Collecting presentations from either the internet or ...
31
votes
14answers
9k views
What to do with students requesting deadline extension due to the death of a relative (but without a doctor's note)?
I am currently working as a teaching assistant for several courses in STEM in the US at the college level.
During the past two semesters since Covid19 started, I have noticed that whenever a deadline ...
20
votes
4answers
5k views
How do I voice my opinion that the teaching of students is being neglected?
I'm in a Phd program right now and it seems there are some unethical practices going on in my department. Examples include: testing over irrelevant material or material that was not really covered, ...
6
votes
0answers
222 views
Losing one's teaching assistantship due to weird circumstances [closed]
So my best friend is sort of in a strange situation. We are in the same graduate program. Here's the story.
Last semester I was stuck in a class with a professor with an extremely weird way of running ...
5
votes
3answers
171 views
How to grade unequal contributions to group work as a TA bound by instructor's rules
I am a TA for a freshman course in the humanities at a US university. Due to pandemic restrictions, the class is entirely online and the medium through which students learn is Canvas. Lectures are pre-...
31
votes
9answers
8k views
How can I motivate the teaching assistants to grade more strictly?
I am a lecturer in charge of a course with over 250 students and several TAs. The TAs are partly responsible for grading the homework assignments. Since these are assignments in programming, no two ...
4
votes
1answer
667 views
How to deal with student's feedback about tutor
I'm a professor's assistant and design the exercises for his class. Each week the students are assigned some homework, which will be corrected by a tutor. I got an email from a student, who "...
2
votes
1answer
75 views
How should a prof assign duty for a course with a discussion forum/board?
I am (with a few fellow TAs) helping a prof with an online course in STEM that has a discussion forum/board. However, it seems to me that this wasn't really thought through and now we have reached a ...
2
votes
3answers
224 views
Is it normal to have grad student instructors for upper division classes?
I'm almost done with my undergraduate degree (B.S. in a physical science) and, looking back, a good portion of my upper division major classes have been taught by grad students. Is this normal?
I hope ...
2
votes
0answers
89 views
How common is it for universities to cover tuition and offer stipend for Master's students for RA/TA positions (USA)? [closed]
From my googling I found that only about 30% of the universities I looked at (in Computer Science) offer Research Assistant (RA)/Teaching Assistant (TA) positions to Master's students that cover ...
0
votes
1answer
223 views
Should I let a bad mark from 10 years ago discourage me from taking on a TAship? [duplicate]
10 years ago it was my first year in University and I bombed a course in programming. I had no programming experience and was competing with people have been programming since 10. I felt stupid and my ...
1
vote
1answer
160 views
Is it okay to reproduce the work as a teaching assistant?
Next week, I need to give a lecture on a topic (say T).
I surveyed over the internet and found excellent video lectures by a professor (Say P).
I learned T thoroughly. I can able to answer any ...
15
votes
7answers
8k views
What do professors do if they receive a complaint about incompetence of a teaching assistant?
If a professor is teaching a course with a significant number of students.
My university randomly assigns teaching assistants (TAs) to courses. For example, I was given the assistantship of an ...
5
votes
4answers
898 views
How can teaching assistants deal with grade disputes?
From the answers to this question, it is clear that TAs in the US are usually responsible for grading students' work.
In my country, most of the TAs face the following challenges:
Students confront ...
4
votes
3answers
2k views
Do TAs in the US usually grade student responses?
In my country, many institutes have the custom of TAs evaluating and distributing the marks of students of that particular course the TA is handling.
I am wondering whether it is a part of academic ...
16
votes
3answers
3k views
How much course preparation, grading, and student question handling can be reasonably expected of a graduate TA? [closed]
I am creating all homeworks, quizzes (two per week), exams (2x75 questions), review questions (2x75), projects, 20-page lecture notes (two per week), and answering all student e-mails, along with ...
18
votes
3answers
3k views
What is an “evidence based” teaching statement?
(I'm a PhD student in mathematics, for context.)
What do people mean when they say that claims in a teaching statement should be "evidence based?"
For background, I have been watching my ...
7
votes
2answers
1k views
TA salary between different university departments
Recently, I was talking to some fellow grad students and the issue of money came up. I was shocked to find out my two friends who are TA's in the philosophy and physics departments at the same ...
12
votes
2answers
1k views
Advice for first time mathematics TA during the COVID-19 pandemic [closed]
I'm set to start my first year as a TA at a large R1 institution. My teaching assignment consists of being a TA for an honors calculus I section. This includes holding a weekly problem solving session ...
0
votes
1answer
182 views
As a master's student, will a GRA or GTA position provide a greater benefit for PhD applications? [closed]
I am a Master's student with goals to pursue a PhD. I am currently a graduate research assistant (GRA), but have been offered a GTA (graduate teaching assistant) position in Machine Learning. The ...
17
votes
3answers
6k views
What to do about past errors or inconsistencies in assignments I graded?
I was a grader for my university couple of years ago. I'm also a PhD student. Out of the five semesters I graded..I got a "not fit for rehire" 3 times.
I was not responsive, didn't cater to ...
1
vote
2answers
192 views
Why lab sessions are handled by TAs?
Consider a course (say machine learning). Professors attend to deal with a theoretical part and then does not involve in the coding part.
The task of handling the coding part is left to the TAs of the ...
3
votes
2answers
613 views
Best way to apply for position as a teaching assistant
Soon, I'll start my last year of undergraduate studies in physics.
At my university it is possible (but not too common for undergraduates) to be employed as a teaching assistant for a first year's ...
2
votes
0answers
130 views
TAing for two young hotshot postdocs (possible “in” for future research)? or TAing a lab with more student engagement?
Incoming theoretical physics PhD student in the US.
I hope to get into academia after my PhD.
When listing TA preferences, would it behoove my career goal more to list as my top preference a course ...
5
votes
3answers
527 views
Does saying ''I don't know" often decrease my authority as teaching assistant?
I worked as a TA for several courses. Some courses fall into the domain in which my research also happens. But some other courses are not at all familiar to me.
My Institute conducts tutorial classes ...
7
votes
4answers
6k views
Is it ethical for professors to ask graduate students to teach? [closed]
Universities require a doctorate degree to apply for a faculty position which involves both teaching and research. Even if the professor did not receive any formal training in pedagogy, it is expected ...
4
votes
1answer
391 views
I think my TA winked at me and have developed feelings. Should I ask her out after the semester ends? [duplicate]
TLDR: I have feelings for my TA, think she winked at me, and would like to ask her out after the end of the semester.
So my eyes do this weird thing sometimes when I'm sleep-deprived or stressed ...
0
votes
1answer
118 views
got a TAship award- is it a difficult task [closed]
i am awarded TAship to fund my phd studies although i know TA roles and responsibilities and actually quite excited to carry out these tasks but on the other hand i am dreading a little that what if i ...
1
vote
1answer
72 views
query related to Teaching Assistantship award
As a newly admitted student in PhD program, I have been awarded TA ship by my department for academic year Fall 2020-spring 2021. the stipend is quite generous that is 2300usd/month. In funding letter ...
1
vote
2answers
291 views
Can PhD students turn down teaching assistantships?
This question deals with PhD programs which guarantee their students funding via teaching assistantships in the US.
In order to have more time for themselves (e.g., for PhD research, or for working a ...
18
votes
1answer
1k views
Tips for transition to online classrooms given university shutdowns in response to COVID-19
Given the recent shutdowns of many universities across the world, there's an increased interest in online education techniques.
In my case, I am a TA for a quantum chemistry class, and I'm finding it ...
7
votes
4answers
912 views
How should I approach the issue of students not writing their name and student number on an exam?
I am a teaching assistant (TA) in a second-year undergraduate course and have just received the results of my students' multiple choice midterm exam, which were marked by an optical marking ("Scantron"...
-1
votes
1answer
72 views
Offered TA position two months before, head assitant no longer responds
At the beginning of the last semester, I responded to a TA offer which was online, met with the head assistant of the course, meeting was positive, and I did all the needed talks and paperworks with ...
0
votes
3answers
334 views
If the lecture room is usually full, is it appropriate for a TA to compete with the seat of students?
There is one topic in the course that I am TAing that I felt interested to re-learn (since I forgot most things about it). I also had some questions I want to ask about the topic (that could be ...
41
votes
11answers
9k views
What sort of professional boundary should I set with other students when I am a grader for a class I will be taking?
Next semester, I am going to take a course in which I have some background knowledge. Given the relevance of the course in my research, the lack of available students with sufficient knowledge in the ...
1
vote
3answers
273 views
Is there such a thing as a permanent academic assistantship position?
It's common for graduate students and postdocs to fulfill various "assistant" positions in academia. They may grade papers or conduct research under the direct supervision of a faculty member who is ...
1
vote
1answer
100 views
Referring students to external resources
I am a grad student and this is my first time as TA for a course which requires me to grade essays. I usually grade assignments with more objective answers (think late undergrad science labs). A ...
2
votes
1answer
144 views
TA position in different discipline? [closed]
I was recently notified of an opportunity for a TA position.
The same email went to the whole department.
The position would be helping/teaching a class in a different
discipline than mine.
I only ...
27
votes
13answers
10k views
Students requesting to switch partners mid term
I'm a TA in a graduate level course. Students in the course have to hand in a weekly assignment which is done in pairs.
A few days ago, one of the students approached the professor and told her that ...
23
votes
9answers
7k views
Balancing empathy and deferring to the syllabus in teaching responsibilities
Questions of similar topics have been asked here for the situation of instructing a course and here and here for the situation of 'no late work' policies. Additional questions about balancing teaching ...
2
votes
1answer
119 views
Teaching subjects as an instructor which I scored average grades in
As a final year PhD student, I have been asked to teach a short introductory course on solid mechanics for undergrad students. Now, my PhD research has been applied mechanics where I developed tools ...
2
votes
1answer
219 views
Is it acceptable or normal for professors to ask first semester grad students to teach a class?
I'm currently pursuing a Master's/PhD integrated program at a university in Korea. It's my first semester, and I along with two other first-semester students are TA'ing for our advisor's undergraduate ...
45
votes
17answers
13k views
Should a TA point out a professor's mistake while attending their lecture?
I faced the following situation a few days back. I am doing my teaching assistance work under a professor.
I attended one of his classes as a TA during which he was teaching some technically wrong ...
34
votes
7answers
9k views
Is TA-ing worth the opportunity cost (of having more time for research)?
If you already have funding, is TA-ing (i.e. being a teaching assistant) worth the opportunity cost of doing more research?
What are the relevant considerations?
I've always heard that focusing on ...
1
vote
2answers
106 views
TA Funding Length in STEM Field in USA [closed]
I understand that depending on the department and the school the duration of the TA funding for a Phd student can vary. However, I’m interested in learning whether it’s common for departments in STEM ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Fired from TA position without cause/notice, what to do next? [closed]
I am a post-doc in the USA and was a teaching assistant in the same university. During my TA appointment, I attended a one-week course outside the city. Prior to leaving, I got permission from the ...
1
vote
2answers
152 views
help becoming a research assistant
This is probably me overthinking a lot but I really don't want to screw this up. There was a flyer sent to me by my adviser for a research assistant opening for one of the psych professors on campus. ...
75
votes
11answers
26k views
Is it ethical to tell my teaching assistant that I like him?
I, a twenty-year-old female, have come to admire the graduate teaching assistant for my summer course quite strongly. I'm extremely interested in what he has to say, I always pay attention, never use ...
5
votes
5answers
2k views
Why do departments hire GTAs instead of more permanent faculty? [closed]
I notice departments often hire graduate students as teaching assistants.
I'm curious why departments do this instead of hire a lecturer to do the teaching. I'm sure this is helpful for the GTAs, ...
