advice for TAs

Preparation is underway for the season of graduate student orientations. The First Year Graduate Student (FYGS) Orientation and TA Orientation are coming up fast. (Just in case you're wondering what I'll be up to for the next two months...)

There's a great group of folks who serve on the Teaching Assistant Effectiveness Advisory Committee (TAEAC) who help to organize not only the TA Orientation, but also seminars/workshops throughout the year to help TAs with classroom management and help prepare them to address different situations in class. I've been meeting with graduate student members of the TAEAC, and we've had the chance to share some of our stories/experiences and how we've handled them...sometimes just muddling through the best we can. I thought I would share a few of the things we've discussed...tips and tricks we've learned through our experience. I acted as a TA for a junior level course for three semesters, and as instructor of record for three different classes over four semesters. 

1. Your syllabus is important
It is really important to have a comprehensive syllabus with clear course goals, expectations and procedural information for your students. If you want it to be your classroom policy that the use of cell phones is not allowed, put it in your syllabus. If students are required to work independently on assignments, put it in your syllabus. If you plan on allowing students to drop one assignment grade or quiz grade, put it in your syllabus. 

One of the best additions I made to my syllabus was to require students to request a regrade on an assignment or exam in writing. I was having too many students come to me after an exam telling me I had made an error, that their answer was correct, etc. There was no way that I could review their work, remember their exam and make a judgment in just a few minutes...with a whole line of students behind them. I required that they provide me with their assignment/exam, a write up of what they think was graded incorrectly, how they proposed that the "error" be remedied, and turn it in a the beginning of the next class period. At that time, I would review their statement, and make a final decision within a week. I made clear that "you took off too many points" was not an acceptable excuse.

2. You never have to make a decision RIGHT THAT SECOND.
If you have a student come to you with a complaint, upset with how something was graded, actually, upset about anything related to your course, you can always ask them to come back at another time and/or schedule an appointment. If it's during office hours, you can tell the student that you can't make a decision until you discuss it with your supervisor. You are the instructor. You can always say no. 

3. Please be aware of FERPA.
FERPA stands for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. What it means is that students have a right to privacy and you cannot share their information with anyone without their permission through an official FERPA waiver that can be filled out online. As a TA it is unlikely that you know who a student has given the U of A permission to share their information with. You may not even have the permission required in ISIS to look it up. If you have someone call, or a parent even comes in with their student requesting information on their academic performance in your class, or in general, BY LAW, YOU CANNOT PROVIDE IT. You can take their information, let them know that you will speak with your supervisor and get back to them if appropriate. Students have to fill out the waiver to give their parents permission...even if those parents are the ones paying for school...before you can share any information with them. 

4. There are people/offices on campus to help you
Having a problem with a student? Concerned about a student's well being? There are a lot of people who can help. They can come present to your class, you can send your students their way. I know you've "heard" me say this before, but you're not alone. Talk to your advisor, your supervisor, other students. Attend seminars. 

5. Go to TA Orientation (Monday - Tuesday, August 19-20, 2013. 
To learn more about what I've discussed...if I've piqued your interest, if you're teaching a class in the fall, please come to our TA Orientation. It is organized and sponsored by the Graduate School, and registration is required. You can register at: http://grad.uark.edu/dean/events/index.php. We will have sessions about using Blackboard and ISIS, about putting together a syllabus, senior TAs will be speaking on a panel about their experiences, and Day 2 is going to address some situations that have been experienced by TAs just like you...and there will be people talking about the best way to handle each situation...and who's available to help. Come, ask questions, and find some folks you can contact if you have questions.

Stay cool...I'll be posting about some upcoming Career Development Workshops that I'll be presenting this month and next once our registration page is up. 

-- Dawn