Being a TA in a Science Lab
Rajlakshmi Ghosh (rghosh2@kent.edu)
Sanjoy Paul (spaul11@kent.edu )
Overview of Assistantships
•
TA (Teaching Assistant)
– Teach lab or lecture sessions
– Assist other professors with their classes
 Prepare instructional materials, syllabus verification
 Prepare laboratory materials, experimental set up
 Function as Recitation or Lecture Aide
– Conduct grading and proctoring
– Assist students during office hours
•
RA (Research Assistant)
– Work in research projects
 Conduct literature review, perform experiments, collect and analyze data, take part
in writing grants, proposals and publications
 Conduct interviews, transcribe interviews, conduct observations
 Mentor undergraduate students
•
GA (Graduate Assistant)
– Perform various duties, can be other than teaching and research
 Assist professors in service projects
 Administrative work
Overview of Assistantships
Some Examples
Geography
Types
of
TAs
Courses
with Labs
TA s
Responsibilities
# Of lab sections
and
# of students
TA lab
Manual?
Teach lab sections
Geology
Teach lab sections
Biology
Chemistry
Teach lab
sections, proctor,
grade, lab
coordinator
Classes with 100+
students, Cell
Bio, Structure and
Function, Bio
Foundations.
Teach undergraduate
labs**
General Chemistry I
& II, Organic
Chemistry I & II,
Fundamentals of
Chemistry, and Intro
to Organic
Chemistry*
Teach, grade, proctor exams in CORE Labs: Teach,
TAs are evaluated 20hrs/week, teaching,
labs, host office hours
grade, host office hour. through course
grading, office hours,
Major Labs: assist
evaluations and
lab development;
instructor
soon peer-reviews evaluated by
professor
2 sections/20
2 sections/24 students
Physical Geography: 10 in
15-24 students per
students per
each (1 section if
class/ 30 students (TA teaches 2 section.
advanced class)
sections) – meet twice a week PhD teach 3 labs/week section
or 1 lecture, Masters
2 online/60 students (TA
teach 2 labs/week
teaches 1 section)
Field and Workshop Courses,
GIS, Remote Sensing, LER
courses (World Geography,
Intro to Geography, Physical
Geography)
2-3 hour orientation, weekly
meetings
4 credit courses
(CORE and Major
required)
Orientation,
TA Workshop,
Faculty lab facilitators Some labs have
meet weekly with TAs TA manual
Manual and
additional training
provided
Physics
Teaching, grading,
proctoring, no lab
coordinators
Introductory physics
for science majors
(PHY 13101, 13102),
College physics I &
II and physics majors
(23101, 23102) etc.
Faculty evaluation of
TAs
20 hours maximum
General Science Class Structure
•
Lecture Classes
– Usually large student population
– Taught by an instructor or professor
– You (as a TA) may assist professor in the class with the lecture or teach the
lab that is associated with the lecture class (see below)
•
Lab Sessions
– Smaller groups divided up from the larger lecture (20-30 students per lab)
– Mostly taught by TAs (you!) (independently or co-taught)
– Usually has a Lead TA or Lab Coordinator
 New TAs supervised/assisted by an experienced TA
 New TAs may assist other TAs in the first semester, teach
independently in the next semester
Duties of a Science Lab TA
•
•
Varies from department to department! Can include one or more of the following :
–
Natural Sciences
 Teaching two to three lab sections (most common)
 Grading and proctoring exams
 Help students during office hours/tutoring
 Data entry and analysis
 Leading discussions and seminars
 Preparation work (setting up) and cleanup in labs
–
Social/Behavioral Sciences
 Conduct participant interviews
 Transcribing
 Visit schools/student observations
Purpose still remains the same! Your goals as a TA should include:
–
–
–
–
Exploring concepts presented during lecture
Connecting lecture topics to the practical world
Understand scientific method(s) involved.
Promote hands-on learning.
Before the Semester Begins
•
Get as much information as possible!
–
–
–
–
–
•
Get to know your department, program and buildings associated (locations of labs and
lecture rooms)
Meet the Graduate Coordinator (or Department Secretary)
Know your specific duties (Sign and understand CONTRACT)
Meet the Instructor for the lab you would be teaching, the Lab Coordinator or even other TAs
Attend the Departmental Orientation (if applicable)
Familiarize yourself with the resources
– Get your keys/swipe cards for the room
– Check out the lab equipments, materials, safety gears
– Get a copy of the Lab Manual or TA manual (if available)
– Get a copy of the student list (roster)
– Get an existing syllabus (ask one from the department)
– Prepare your syllabus*
– Familiarize yourself with the Blackboard*
– Attend a GSO session (First time as a TA)*
* Breakout sessions offered during GSO and are highly recommended. If you are unable
to attend one, get related materials and resources from the GSO website.
Before Your First Class
•
Make sure you have the keys, instructional materials (syllabus, books, handouts,
slides, etc.) ready
•
Make sure you have the laboratory materials ready (equipments, softwares,
chemicals, etc.)
•
Go over the assigned lab manual or exercise
– Familiarize yourself with the specific equipments and materials that are
involved in the lab
– Determine all safety measures associated
– Get your syllabus ready (read and revise before you print!)
– Plan your teaching strategy - take note of the time management
– Do the lab yourself (if time permits )
– Attend a lab that’s early in the week
Your First Class
•
Dress appropriately - Stand out from your students 
–
•
Some labs have dress code – make sure you follow them!
Arrive early and greet students
–
–
Complete all set up oat least 5 minutes before class starts
Check on technology (AV equipments, etc.)
•
Introduce yourself
•
Establish the connection between lab and topic/lecture (the purpose of the lab)
•
Review the syllabus
–
Be VERY clear on your policies - Dress code, late work, missed class, attendance, grading,
classroom conduct, etc.
•
Go with a Preview/View/Review approach for the specific day
•
After lab: Disposal and clean up
– Leave the lab as clean and ready for the next TA
Every Class
•
Dress appropriately - Stand out from your students 
–
•
Arrive early and greet students
–
–
•
Some labs have dress code – make sure you follow them!
Complete all set up at least 5 minutes before class starts
Check on technology (AV equipments, etc.)
General Lab Structure
1.
2.
3.
Preview: Give an introduction to the lab or provide an overview of the experiment/goals for
that lab
View: Perform the exercise or experiment (Keep students on track and be aware of the
time)
Review: Relate the exercise or experiment to the theory or topics presented in lecture,
Leave time for questions

•
Maintain a TA Reflection Journal for yourself
After lab: Disposal and clean up
–
Leave the lab as clean and ready for the next TA
Grading Assignments as TAs
•
Grading students’ work
Shorter assignments - Quizzes, weekly homework, reflections
Longer assignments - Essays, lab reports, journal reviews, exams
Online (via Blackboard) or in-class
Give the grading criteria in advance (provide a rubric to your students)
Remind students about LATE SUBMISSIONS, ABSENCE and MAKE-UP exams
(in the syllabus and do not deviate from them)
– If grading for other professors, get a copy of the grading rubric and syllabus from
instructor
– Give feedback on time
– Be prepared to answer questions about grading or justify your grading to the
student
–
–
–
–
–
•
Some strategies for effective grading
– Read a few assignments before you begin to assign grades
– Be consistent with your grading
Proctoring as a TA
•
Understanding “proctoring” of exams
– Know specific responsibilities as a TA




When and where to proctor (check for schedule conflicts)
How long is the exam
What tech tools might be needed
Where to turn in assignments
– Know the University’s and the instructor’s policies on cheating
 Whom to report if needed
End of Semester
•
Don’t forget to take your Student Evaluations
– Follow rules associated
•
Clarify the date of final exam
– Check for different timings with the university calendar
•
Keep a review day (if possible) before final exams
•
Deliver and grade final exam on time
•
Submit grades on time
– Faculty tools in FlashLine or
– Submit to lecture instructor
Questions?
Rajlakshmi Ghosh
School of Teaching, Learning & Curriculum Studies
rghosh2@kent.edu
Sanjoy Paul
Department of Physics
spaul11@kent.edu