Teaching Assistant Guidelines and Responsibilities at ECE Illinois
Teaching Assistants at ECE Illinois play a crucial role in assisting faculty members in various instructional tasks. Responsibilities include lab setup, instruction, grading, holding office hours, and more. Financial aid options, planning documents, and key personnel contact information are also provided for assistance. TAs work under the direction of course instructors and support the learning environment for students.
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Teaching Assistant Orientation Fall 2019 Michael Oelze Associate Head for Graduate Affairs
Key Personnel Jennifer Merry, Assistant Director of Academic Programs, 2120 ECEB merry@illinois.edu, TA assignments, appointments, general problems Casey Smith, Instructional Lab Coordinator, 3064 ECEB cjsmith0@illinois.edu, Instructional labs equipment problems and needs, parts, supplies Eileen Busboom, 1034 ECEB ebusboom@illinois.edu, Keys and keycard access Pascal Youakim, 2120 ECEB youakim2@illinois.edu, TA conference room reservations
Facilities and Support Desk copies of textbooks are available contact Laurie Fisher, 2120 ECEB Copy Room, 1031A1 Will make copies of course-related materials for you. Allow 24 hours advance notice for copies. ECE Supply Center, 1031 ECEB Lab and instructional supplies, purchase class notes
Financial aid for TAs Teaching assistants are selected to assist faculty in instruction. Tuition waiver in addition to stipend for appointments of 25% and above. 50% appointment: 20 hours per week, on average 25% appointment: 10 hours per week, on average Appointments are determined by need and resources.
Planning Documents All MS/PHD students fill out an online planning document each semester (you will receive an email reminder). The planning document is where you can apply to be considered for a Teaching Assistantship in the following semester.
Being a TA in ECE at Illinois TAs work under the direction of the course instructor (supervisor). TAs are enablers for instructors/faculty: duties as assigned by the instructors. Direct your questions about duties and responsibilities to your supervisor (course instructor).
Being a TA in ECE at Illinois Duties depend upon specific course Laboratory set-up, instruction, clean up Assistance with lecture preparation Class room instruction (for 400-level courses), leading discussions Holding office hours, answering questions about homework, exams Generating homework and/or exam questions and solutions. Grading homework and/or exams Maintaining course website.
Being a TA in ECE at Illinois All TAs responsible for lecture, discussion or lab sections are expected to distribute Instructor & Course Evaluation System (ICES) forms to their students. Expect to receive ICES form request sheets toward the end of the semester. All first time TAs must take ECE 590 TL
Challenges for Teaching Assistants Balancing course work, thesis research (or your thesis advisor search), and TA duties. Plan ahead your heaviest coursework load may occur at the same time as your heaviest TA workload.
Challenges for Teaching Assistants Dealing with your students: Earn their respect by respecting them Listen carefully. Understand questions before attempting to answer. Useful mantra: There are no dumb questions! Learn from student questions. Modify lectures, homework solutions, explanations, etc. according to the feedback that you receive from student questions. Be patient!
Challenges for Teaching Assistants Don t be late and never miss a lab, discussion section, TA group meeting, or grading session without making prior arrangements to have the section covered. If necessary to miss a session due to illness or emergency, make sure that you arrange for another TA to cover your section. Notify your instructor if/when this is necessary.
Challenges for Teaching Assistants Classroom or laboratory discipline problems (e.g. disruptive, destructive, or disrespectful behavior) Make sure that expectations are clear up front, and preferably expressed in writing either in handouts or on website e.g. no food or drink in labs. In the case of persistent problems, inform instructor and/or involve instructor directly, if necessary.
Challenges for Teaching Assistants Make sure that the line between collaborative study/work (often encouraged) and cheating is clear and is understood by you and your students. University of Illinois Student Code provides excellent info on disciplinary and academic policies and regulations. http://studentcode.illinois.edu
Challenges for Teaching Assistants Grade uniformly and fairly. Avoid capricious grading. According to section 3-107 in the Student Code (studentcode.illinois.edu), capricious grading is: Assignment of a grade to a particular student on some basis other than performance in the course. Assignment of a grade by resort to more exacting or demanding standards than were applied to other students registered for the same credit in that course. Assignment of a grade representing a substantial departure from the instructor s previously announced standards.
Resources for Improving your Teaching Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL, citl.illinois.edu) offers consultations, seminars, workshops for campus instructors. Graduate Course on College Teaching: EOL 585 College Teaching and Academic ENG 598 Teaching & Leadership. Same as ECE 590TL and required for all new TAs
Appointment Terms Remember that Research Assistantships and Teaching Assistantships are jobs! Assistantship appointments don t begin and end on the first and last days of class. For instance, in Fall, appointments typically start on August 16 and end on December 31. Training, planning, preparation and grading activities may require your presence on campus before classes begin.
Appointment Terms Completion of grading and grade turn-in may require your presence on campus for several days after the final exam. Plan your travel accordingly. Always discuss any planned absences with your instructor.
