“Where do I start?” That was the thought running through Edward Nguyen’s mind when he accepted a teaching assistant (TA) position.
“I got my offer letter pretty close to the start of the semester,” said Nguyen, a master’s student in Mechanical Engineering. “So, it was like, I’m a TA now — what do I do?”
But, thanks to the Center for Teaching and Learning’s (CTL) Teaching Assistant Orientation (TAO), Nguyen wasn’t left wondering for long.
If you are a new TA who could use some insight into topics such as interacting with students and tips for grading, you can choose from two upcoming TAO sessions on Jan. 8 in the Peachtree Room, Student Center Commons, and on Jan. 23 in the Piedmont Room, Student Center. Both sessions will occur from 4:30-7:30 p.m.
A special orientation session for international TAs will be held on Jan. 25 from 10:30 a.m.-noon. Here, students who are new to the United States will learn about the culture, students, and teaching techniques typically used in the American college classroom.
TAOs are led by a team of eight experienced Graduate Teaching Fellows who present interactive sessions that help new TAs understand their roles and how to do them well.
“I definitely recommend attending TAO,” Nguyen said. “The sessions will help you learn the basics of what it means to teach at Tech, such as how to grade effectively and consistently, as well as how to help students learn vs. just talking at them. You’ll also learn about the numerous resources you can use beyond what you pick up at orientation.”
