In some courses, Head TAs work with faculty to coordinate sections. In other cases, faculty meet weekly with their TAs to be sure sections are comparable. E-mail messages or weekly brown bag lunches are other ways to keep TAs in touch with faculty expectations and to keep faculty apprised of TA needs, concerns, and successes. Early knowledge about the types of examinations given in the course will help both faculty and their TAs prepare the students in the types of content and skills the exam is meant to test. Many TAs are eager to discuss teaching issues and strategies.
Faculty can have a strong impact on the way graduate students view teaching as well research.
Just as faculty mentor their graduate students in terms of research skills, they can mentor their teaching assistants in terms of teaching complexities. Goals, Roles and Responsibilities. University-wide conference held at the University of California, Davis , April 1989. Shirley Ronkowski Text copyright 1997, The Regents of The University of California.