Oceanography Lead Teaching Assistant Guide

Lead TA responsibilities

The School of Oceanography is committed to supporting the (1/4-time) Lead TA position during autumn and spring quarters. The Lead TA is expected to work closely with the Faculty TA Coordinator.

Oceanography Lead Teaching Assistant Tasks

• Prior to Autumn Quarter (<~Sept 15)
  1. ~May 25: Attend the CIDR-initiated TA Preparation meeting during which recent graduates from diverse employment discuss the utility of teaching experience and campus-wide TA resources are publicized.
  2. Contact CIDR to determine schedule of TA orientations around campus, and assess any new resources or services they are offering during upcoming year
  3. Sit in on some of the orientations to glean innovations for Oceanography
  4. Contact other departments' lead TAs
  5. Discuss possible innovations for the new year with the Faculty TA Coordinator
  6. Become familiar with other campus-wide teaching resources... (see Teaching Tools web page?)

• Pre-Orientation (<~Sept 19/21)
  1. Update mentor web page with new TA list (from Academic Coordinator)
  2. Contact past year's TAs to see if any would be willing to act as mentors to new TAs
  3. Build or update email lists of new TAs and associated mentors
  4. Arrange meeting of lead TA and Coordinator with all TAs who will serve during coming quarter
  5. Conduct meeting to introduce departmental and UW teaching resources; emphasize contacting mentors and meeting with the professor to plan for the quarter; encourage the articulation of teaching goals that can be assessed at the middle and end of the quarter.
  6. Consider adding new references to TA reserves in Oceanography Library

• TA Orientation (~Sept 19/21)
  1. Facilitate and keep records (including photography) as necessary
  2. Announce basic information: seminar, web pages, other resources, and the rewards of being a TA (strengthen teaching portfolio, UW Ocean TA award?!)

• Autumn Quarter
  1. Schedule peer support group (lunchtime?) meeting every (other?) week
  2. Contact interested mentors and schedule CIDR training in observation methods
  3. Participate in TA seminar and peer-support group
  4. Meet with other lead TAs through CIDR meetings or workshops
  5. Ensure that mid-quarter evaluations are undertaken by all interested TAs
  6. Send reminders/catalysts of meetings between TAs and mentors, and other ops
• Winter Quarter
  1. Meet with Autumn TAs to discuss evaluations and teacher portfolios
  2. ?? Schedule peer support group (lunchtime?) meeting every (other?) week
  3. Contact interested mentors and schedule CIDR training in observation methods
  4. Ensure that mid-quarter evaluations are undertaken by all interested TAs
  5. Send reminders/catalysts of meetings between TAs and mentors, and other ops
  6. Develop and/or refine methods for evaluating TA performance.
• Spring Quarter
  1. Prepare for next orientation
  2. Recruit & train succesor
  3. ~May 25: Attend the CIDR-initiated TA Preparation

• At the end of each quarter
  1. Ensure TAs are evaluated and encourage the generation of a teaching portfolio
  2. Administer assessment of the utility of the Orientation based on the TAs classroom experiences.