TA training and supervision
Develop a multifaceted relationship with your TA. In addition to assisting you in teaching the course, the TA is the liaison between you and the students. You also have a role as mentor and supervisor.
For the assisting role,
- Be certain everyone is clear about the teaching responsibilities, especially the grading.
- Discuss the course calendar, noting when grading or other projects must be completed.
As a liaison between you and the students:
- Make sure that the TA understands both your philosophy for the course, and your policies so that that information is accurately passed on to students.
- Clarify those decisions that can be made by the TA, and those that must be made by you.
- Encourage TAs to comment on your teaching. They are in an excellent position to inform you of how well the students understand the material, and can identify problems that students might be having (e.g., not being able to hear you, unavailable materials in the library, confusing exams, etc.).
- Ask TAs to keep notes on their interactions with students during office hours in order to 1) get an idea of the kinds of questions students have, and 2) verify conversations where disputes arise (e.g., "Why can't I take a make-up? My TA said I could.")
As mentor and supervisor, consider your TA to be 1) a junior colleague with whom you have common academic interests, and 2) an apprentice, learning about teaching and other activities related to an academic career
- Help the TAs develop the instructional skill required to do a good job in your course.
- Encourage them to develop their own instructional styles within the limits set by you.
- Encourage the more experienced TA to present a lecture in your course (especially if the TA has a particular interest in the subject matter) and provide supportive feedback afterward.
- If the TA makes a class presentation, videotape it and view in a supportive environment. Request videotaping.
- Contact the Teaching Resources Center at 530-752-6050 and find out about TA training opportunities. Check out the TA programs listed on the TRC website.
- Contact Writing in the Disciplines (campus writing center) to learn about writing assignments and grading. They will give presentation to your class or meet with you and your TAs individually (530) 752-2257.
- Discuss the ethics of teaching -- the importance of conducting oneself in a professional manner, appropriate and inappropriate behaviors between TA and students, campus policies concerning sexual harassment, etc.
- Review the students' and your evaluations of the TA. Identify areas of strength and those needing improvement, with specific suggestion about how to overcome deficiencies. If appropriate, offer to write letters of recommendation in the future, and keep notes so that those letters can be detailed and specific.
Plan the discussion/lab/review sessions with the TAs. Describe and discuss objectives.
Make clear your expectations for what the students should gain from attending the TA's section. Discuss how the section relates to the larger course, and how the section activities will be related to the students' overall course grades.
Labs may be organized and structured, but don't assume that the TAs will know what elements may confuse students or be misunderstood. Discuss the main learning goals for the labs, and "troubleshoot" any elements that are unfamiliar to the TA.
Provide topics or questions to be addressed in discussion sections.
If new information is to be provided by the TA, make sure the TA has clear directions and understands how you intend the material to be presented.
Communicate the importance of being well prepared and avoiding "winging it." Visit a section occasionally in a non-threatening, supportive role.
Discuss the characteristics and expectations of students in your classes, and your expectations for how TAs and students should relate to each other.
Open discussion of the TA role and continued communication between the instructor and the TA generally can bridge differences in experience and culture.
For non-native speakers, explore with the TA ways of enhancing language communication by using additional tools such as projection, handouts, blackboard, etc. See the TRC resource page for International TAs. The Linguistics Department offers courses through their ESL Program. Tutoring for these courses is available at the campus Learning Skills Center.
Encourage the TA to tell you and the class something about his or her culture and country, especially if it can be related to the course content.