Transcript Teaching Assistant & Professor Roles What about University

Teaching Assistant & Professor Roles
How the University Can Help
Joan Baenziger & Grace da Rosa
Ph.D. Candidates
Human Development & Family Studies
Today’s Objectives
• What You Learn & Benefits of a TA
• Assignment of Responsibilities
• Interaction Between TA & Professors
• Unique problems
– International Students
– Students Issues
• When do you need to ask for help?
Benefits of Being a TA
Learning the Subject Matter Thoroughly
Understanding the Role of Professor
Problem Student Resolution Skills
Grading Skills
Administrative Skills
Time Management Skills
Money
Responsibilities of a TA
• It is Up To the Professor/Department
• What Responsibilities Might Be Assigned:
– Lecture, Lab or Recitations
– Stand Alone Teaching
– Grading , Rubric & Reporting Grades
How Much Time Do I Work as a TA
Lots of Time is Required!
Minimal Time for a 1/2 Time = 20 hours
BUT
Usually requires 35- 40 + hours (depends
on Professor)
Great deal of difference between
Professors.
International TA & Professors Roles:
Two Common Problems
• Problem #1:
– What is “Normal” and Acceptable in American
Culture
• Problem #2:
– In My Culture, We aren’t Allowed to Say No
– Respect Authority Figures
Learn How to Handle Classroom &
Personal Student Issues
– How to Handle Personal Student Issues
• Dean of Students Office
URL = www.dso.iastate.edu
• Contact your Mentor or Dept.
– How to Handle Classroom Issues
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Syllabus
University Department
Dean of Students
Center For Excellence in Teaching (CELT)
– URL = www.celt.iastate.edu
Harassment: Unlikely Yet Here is the
Information
• There are People & Places to Help You for:
• Harassment about
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Racial & Ethnic Harassment
Sexual Harassment
Religious Harassment
Harassment about Age, Pregnancy, and Disability
Sexual Orientation
Veteran Status
Any Protected Class of People
Mentor/Supervisors
• Supervisors are Expected to:
– Provide Safe & Harassment-free Environment
– Provide Appropriate Training
*Remember that Long Hours are Expected
TA & Supervisor/Mentor
How to Resolve Disputes
– Ask to Be Reassigned
– Go Through Formal Process
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Student & Supervisor Meet
If an Understanding: Put in Writing
If No Understanding: Go to Dept. Chair & DOGE
If No Resolution: Go to Dean of Graduate College
*Look at Grievance Procedures at Graduate College
Case Study
• “J” is a Ph.D. student in his last semester and is working on his dissertation and
plans to return to his country after he is done because his wife is there and will
have their first baby at the end of semester. “J” got an opportunity for the first time
to be a TA for Dr. Smith (his major professor) in this Fall and “J” is very excited
about having a teaching experience and for being fortunate to get an assistantship
from his department. “J” is going to be TA for a class of 200 students and he was
hired to work 10 hours per week. He is also going to work 10 hours as RA for
another professor. “J” will be responsible for grading the weekly assignments, online group discussions, midterm papers, exams, and was told that he will
“eventually” give lectures. “J” did not receive training to be a TA and had a meeting
with Dr. Smith to learn about his responsibilities. Dr. Smith asked “J” to teach on the
second week of classes because he is going to a conference. He also asked “J” to
teach on the month of November because he will attend an important grant
writing workshop and will attend a conference in India. Dr. Smith said that this
would be a great opportunity for “J” to learn. “J” didn’t know how to say no to
professor Smith and agreed to teach the class. “J” is concerned that this TA work
may affect his academic performance and that he will not be able to graduate in
the end of the semester. Discuss what are acceptable and unacceptable situations
in this case study? How should “J” deal with this situation?