Post on 11-Oct-2020
transcript
New TA Orientation
“Tips and Tricks to Make the Most of Your Time
as a Teacher”
Chaz Ruggieri
Graduate Student, SSX, NPL-115
September 5th, 2013
Adapted from presentations by Viviana Acquaviva and AJ Richards
My Experience
• 2007-2009: Undergraduate tutor
• 2010-2012: Teaching assistant for Extended Analytical
Physics 115/116
• Summer Session 2010, 2011: Teaching assistant for General
Physics 206 (lab), 203 (recitation)
• 2012 – present: Private tutoring
• Richard J. Plano Outstanding TA Award (2011, 2012)
• AAPT Outstanding TA (2013) 2
What is DELTA-P?
• Developing Educational Leaders among TAs in Physics
• Goal: to foster excellence and consistency among grad
student TAs, and to unify the undergrad education experience
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Why should you attend?
• Attend 7 out of 11 seminars and be rewarded with a
Certificate of Training in Physics Education
• Gain exposure to useful teaching ideas and become a more
effective TA
• Required to remain in good standing as a physics TA
What do you want out of your teaching
experience?
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The answer should determine how much time you spend on
preparation, but whatever that time is, make the most of it.
If you do it, no matter the reason, do it as well as you can.
1. Self-respect. Why be bored and frustrated when you can be
happy and fulfilled?
2. You never know what could be useful. A random positive
evaluation or connection might get you your next job.
What do you want out of your teaching
experience?
Scenario 1
Just to get it over with.
i.e., This is the only way to get
financial support
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Scenario 2
Personal/professional
experience and reward
i.e., Seize the opportunity to
test your communication
abilities, obtain good reviews
and apply for teaching jobs
So, which category fits you best?
How much time to spend on preparation?
Scenario 1: You don’t care that much (and that’s okay!)
Goal: Minimize time spent on prep while maintaining your
responsibilities (you never want negative reviews, they will hurt you.)
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Preparation time
Can be kept to a minimum
Know what you will be talking about
(read lab notes, etc.)
Take ½ hour to think how you will
explain the lab in advance (this is
good practice for talks and
presentations anyway)
Classroom time
Must be your best asset!
Have patience.
Be kind, respectful.
Show enthusiasm.
Don’t be complacent (put your
phone away, and forget about the
laptop)
Your attitude directly affects your
students.
How much time to spend on preparation?
Scenario 2: You care a lot!
Goal: Maximize outcome (experience, reviews, impact on your
CV) without devoting all of your time to it.
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Preparation time
This will be key
Focus on your goal
Be prepared (read/do the lab or
assignments prior to class)
Think of questions students may
ask, and have answers prepared –
this is similar to preparing for any
presentation you may do in the
future!
Classroom time
Previous guidelines also apply:
Have patience.
Be kind, respectful.
Show enthusiasm.
Don’t be complacent (put your
phone away, and forget about the
laptop)
Your attitude directly affects your
students.
What are your goals as a teacher?
• Improve public speaking skills and confidence.
• Test your knowledge of fundamentals
• Improve communication skills (teaching is a two-way street;
you need to listen to your students to understand their
problems.)
• Encourage the shyest students, and help bright students
reach their full potential. This will further the growth of the
class as a whole. 8
Of course, to teach. But there are other objectives you
might have for yourself and your students, such as:
How can you prepare for your class?
• Read (and understand) the material in advance.
– Tip: At least start! Take a brief look early on (immediately after
receiving it, for instance) to have it in your mind.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions to the lecturer or other TAs.
You’re expected to know the material, but you’re not expected
to know everything at the start. There’s no shame in learning!
(just make sure you learn it before class)
• If you see mistakes or areas that need improvement, feel free
to discuss this with the lecturer, it will likely result in a better
course overall. 9
It’s easier than you might think!
How can you be confident in your class?
• Be prepared. If you know you did your homework, you will feel
good about it.
• If you hold a structured class time, are knowledgeable and
able to convey that knowledge on a level they can
understand, they will embrace your leadership.
• Know that if you are not happy with your job one day, they will
barely notice, and probably won’t remember it.
• Warning! Do not impose your advanced physics knowledge
on them, it can alienate them from you and create
communication barriers. You’re there to help them.
• However, do not stifle student interest in related topics, but
don’t stray too far from the material at hand.
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Preparedness leads to confidence
How can you be most helpful to your students?
• Be there and give them your full attention (it’s only 1.5-3
hours, max), they’re more likely to ask you questions they
don’t feel like asking the lecturer, and they will appreciate it.
• If you realize you gave a wrong answer or could have
explained something in a better way, address it next class to
clear the issue (your awareness and concern will boost their
confidence in you).
• Try to think of the physics without advanced mathematics.
Using real-life examples helps a lot, so think of some in
advance. (e.g. driving on the highway and relative velocities,
or almost any kind of transportation and 1-d kinematics)
• Show respect and express interest in helping each and every
student. Try your best not to single out your favorites (or the
ones you don’t like as much), students are very observant!
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How can you have more fun?
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Mix it up!
Organize Group
Activities
Attend TA Seminars
(you will get great
new ideas)
Use outside resources,
e.g. online videos
Share something
interesting about the
subject
What if something is going wrong?
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Fix it. Or at least try.
If you don’t, it will generate a sense of failure, which will
affect you even if you didn’t care that much in the first
place.
What if something is going wrong?
• Get feedback. Ask the students to fill in a brief, anonymous
survey mid-term and take it seriously. (I regret not doing this
my first time teaching)
• Nobody is great on their first attempt. Take criticism as an
opportunity to make you a better teacher.
• If a complaint is that you’re not clear, ask a friend who isn’t a
physicist to listen to your lecture/lab explanation and let you
know what is confusing.
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1. If you suspect the students are not very happy with
you (and even if you don’t)
What if something is going wrong?
• Go back to your list of goals and reorganize your time
according to your priorities.
• Cut time that you spend on less essential tasks; for example if
your #1 goal was to practice public speaking but you don’t
particularly care about having excellent reviews, keep
spending time on rehearsing lectures but spend less time
thinking of examples.
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2. If the course is taking far too much of your time
One final tip that works for everything…
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In most cases, the TA is something that you must do for
funding, and you don’t get to choose which course or
professor…
Accept it and make it the best possible experience. You
have everything to gain.
What will you typically be doing as a TA?
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Possible TA Duties
• Oversee recitations and/or labs (be aware of your time limit)
• Design quizzes (usually ~20 min completion time)
– Tip: have a friend work through your quiz to check for errors and
confusing language
• Grade quizzes and/or exams (grade consistently, fairly, and promptly)
– Discuss with other TAs how you will grade, and try to be as
consistent as possible. Remember, you must be able to justify every
point taken off and awarded.
• Hold office hours
• Work with Learning Assistants (LAs)
• Interact with course professor
Which task is the
most difficult?
First Steps
1. Meet with your course professor!
• Special instructions?
• She’s / He’s your leader!
• Learn how the class is designed, know your role in the learning
process and what’s expected.
2. Make sure you read and understand the course website
• The website is an important course guide for you and your
students.
3. Read the first week’s activity, think of how you’ll present the
material!
• Preparedness is key to success!
Your First Day
• Rehearse the main points you wish to convey as you
welcome your class, e.g., who you are and what the TA’s role
is, how the course will proceed, what’s expected of the
students each day…
• Remember, this is YOUR classroom
– Establish your personal style from the beginning
– Make your expectations clear (student behavior, attitude)
• Take attendance, create a sign-in sheet from your roster
– Opportunity to learn names! Students respond better if
they feel comfortable with you, and not knowing their
names makes things awkward.
Most Importantly…
• Have some fun!
– You can be miserable and bored for 3 hours a week, or
you can enjoy that time and feel fulfilled
– This is your chance to put your understanding of
fundamentals to the test while helping others learn how
great physics can be!
Good luck on your first day!
Questions and Concerns?