GTA 101:
Surviving the
First Week
Monica Baziotes
Kent Games
Lindsey Zanchettin
GTA Survival Guide
 Online
resource to help you throughout
the entire semester.
 Compiled by Auburn GTA’s!
 Biggio
Page
Center Website and Facebook
GTA Responsibilities
I’m at Auburn. Now what?
GTA Professionalism
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Dress the part! Avoid tight, revealing, torn
clothing in the classroom and lab.
Use appropriate and respectful language
when addressing students in person and on
paper.
Because of FERPA laws, don’t discuss
individual students in public forums
(Facebook, etc.). Don’t discuss individual
student progress, grades, etc. with anyone
other than the student, including parents, if
the student is over the age of 18.
GTA Professionalism
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Always come prepared to class with a lesson plan,
notes, and a backup plan. Know the classroom
layout and technologies.
Become familiar with Canvas if your course is
online. It has some great features that may help
you teach and assess more effectively.
Be familiar with the material at all times in case
students come to you with questions. This is your
job!
Exude self-confidence in the classroom, but don’t
be arrogant or a “know-it-all.” You want your
students to trust you and learn from you.
Departmental Policies
 Each
department has its own policies
regarding absences, assessment, GTA
cancellations, behavior, office hours, etc.
 Ask your lead professor about these
policies before you begin teaching! You
must adhere to them stringently.
 Meet other grad students in your
department who can help you.
Personal Policies
 Your
syllabus is a contract.
 The more policies you have, the more you
have to police.
 Never give preference to certain
students. Be fair and equitable to all
students.
 Keep your relationships with students
strictly professional – don’t social network.
University Policies
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Become familiar with university policies. For
example, what is considered an excused
absence?
Auburn’s Student ehandbook is a great
resource for students and GTA’s. It has
information about cheating, plagiarism, and
almost every other university policy there is.
Emergency Preparedness is important to
consider. The university offers courses
throughout the academic year to train you.
What are your responsibilities?
 Probable
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list
Weekly labs or lectures
Office hours
First line for student questions/concerns
Emailing class (reminders, course materials)
Going over quizzes, exams
Providing make-ups
Proctoring, grading, and creating student assessments
Maintaining student records, posting to Canvas
Working With Your IOR
 Discuss

May vary depending on IOR
 Be

expectations early in the semester
proactive
Ask questions
Classroom Management
 Communicate


expectations
Rules of the classroom
Level of participation
 Be
consistent
 Possibly provide your own syllabus
 Keep records of communications with
students
Office Hours
 Maintain
regular hours
 Encourage students to visit
 Keep door open when students visit
 Maintain confidentiality
Feedback to Students
 Timely
 Productive
 Correct
inaccurate knowledge
 Verify with instructor of record when to
post
Maintaining Confidentiality
 FERPA
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Discuss only with student, instructor of
record
Parents do not have right to information,
even if student is a minor
Exception: student gives consent
Email not always secure means of
communication
Enter grades in private location
Maintaining Confidentiality
 Keeping
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Records
Retain for one year
Secure location (instructor or grad office,
locked)
Icebreaker
 Form
a group of 4 with those sitting next to
you. Share with the group:
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Your Name
Department for which you are a GTA
If you could be any type of cookie, what
would you be and why?
Now that you know each other
 As
a group, solve the problem on the
handout which is being passed around.
You will have 5 minutes to complete.
Did anyone solve the problem?
Nationality
Color
Brand
Drink
Animal
Norwegian
Yellow
Dunhill
Water
Cat
Dane
Blue
Blend
Tea
Horse
Briton
Red
Pall Mall
Milk
Bird
German
Green
Prince
Coffee
Fish
Swedish
White
Blue Master
Beer
Dog
Purpose of This Activity
 Meet
“classmates”
 Model
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
type of learning you want in class
Team-Based Learning
Critical Thinking
In Summary
 By
the end of the first day of class,
students will have:
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A sense of where they’re going and how
they’ll get there
A feeling that other members of the class
are not strangers, that you and they are
forming a group in which it’s safe to
participate
An awareness that you care about their
learning and will be fair
An expectation that the class will be both
valuable and fun
Course Toolkit
 Accessible
on Auburn’s home page
under “Employees”
 View class rolls and see pictures of your
students.
 Email your students.
Using Technology
 Set
up your course(s) on Canvas and
explore its features. IMG can help with
this. Make sure to publish them.
 Using the Toolkit, send a friendly email to
your students welcoming them to your
class before you have your first meeting
together.
 Have a plan to incorporate technology in
your class beforehand.
A Successful First Week….
 …..is
in your control!
 Questions?