TA tips!

[Benzene]

I just read my feedback from students for my lab instructor position at my MA program and thought it might be helpful to share what I've learned. Feel free to chime in with valuable things you have learned as well!

1. Do not put too much on a Powerpoint - I was advised by my advisor to do no more than 5 lines of text

2. Wait for students to finish writing before verbally expanding on text. Otherwise, they get grumpy

3. Make sure your students know you are available to help. I had most say I was very helpful and easy to get a hold of, and a couple complaints that I helped particular students too much. Really, there are some who ask for help, and some who want help but don't ask. Look out for those who don't ask.

4. Look prepared. Or try to. It's hard the first time around, but it gets better. I think this is more a confidence thing than anything.

5. Make sure students understand the point of the class. I feel some of the feedback I got was due to a misunderstanding of the nature of the course - it was to teach them to write scientifically, not for them (or I!) to be experts on the material

6. When grading, try to find the balance between giving lots of feedback, and getting things back in a timely manner. However, you won't make everyone happy.

I was nervous to see the feedback initially, but I am glad I did now. Some of these things I feel I have improved upon already (Powerpoint-related stuff, seeming more confident/prepared) but some of it was unexpected - the perception of unfair helping, grumbling about me not being an expert on the topics they were writing about. As this quarter ends and I gear up for the next, I know ways I can further improve, and it would have been great to have some of the previous instructors around to give me this advice. So now, I will share it with you all! What have you learned that you found useful or interesting?

[qbtacoma]

Thanks for the tips!