Teaching Assistant & Professor RolesHow the University Can Help

Joan Baenziger & Grace da RosaPh.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 TALearning 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

BUTUsually 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• 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

• 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/MentorHow to Resolve Disputes

– Ask to Be Reassigned

– Go Through Formal Process• 1 Student & Supervisor Meet • 2 If an Understanding: Put in Writing• 3 If No Understanding: Go to Dept. Chair & DOGE• 4 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, on-line 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?