TA GUIDELINES

(Under construction)

Preamble

A major goal of this wiki page is to ensure that everything gets done with the fewest possible emails and last-minute crises. So, to help us achieve this, please observe the following:

If you've been assigned: either do it, or arrange for a replacement.

If you're confused or have run into a problem: ask for help.

If you can't meet a deadline: let us (Susan, Justin, Choong Yong) know as soon as possible.

Once someone has been assigned to a particular duty, we will assume that it got done properly and on time unless we are told otherwise.

Specifics of the various TA Duties are outlined in the documents below.

Please note that even though some of the documents contain excruciating levels of detail, they are not necessarily comprehensive. We're counting on everyone to understand the point of their assigned duty, and to ensure that it gets done as intended - so by all means please notice deficiencies in the guidelines.

Thanks everyone!

WEEKLY and BIWEEKLY DUTIES - ALL TAs

1) Read, understand and field-test practical

2) Show up to the practical

3) Send feedback on practical (areas for improvement) to TA-in-charge (see ROSTER)

4) TA meeting: on alternate weeks, as required.

a) Submit agenda items to TA_Meetings [Deadline: Friday before meeting]

b) Show up to meeting on time

== WEEKLY DUTIES - BY ASSIGNMENT == ROSTER

1) PracticalPrep_TA (2 week lead time)

2) LecturePrep_TA (1 week lead time + start-of-semester email)

3) Check IVLE forum and respond to questions (30 seconds lead time)

4) Plagiarism Cop (no lead time)

5) Grade students' mediawiki presentations (no lead time)

6) Be available to meet with students during posted office hours (no lead time)

IRREGULAR DUTIES - ALL TAs

1) Invigilate CA1 - please read "During CA1" in CA1Prep_TA

2) Suggest LSM2104 syllabus updates (see Syllabus Update)

== IRREGULAR DUTIES - FULLTIME TAs == ROSTER

1) Confirm # of registered students - info from registrar? From biochem office?

2) Set up Project Groups in IVLE

3) CA1Prep_TA - Once per semester (8 week lead time)

4) Final Exam prep - Once per semester (8 week lead time)

5) Send checklist of expectations to lecturers (beginning of semester) - see Stiff Little Email

6) Purchasing

7) Recruitment

8) Maintain miniproject FAQ at Mini_Project_FAQs

9) Grade miniprojects - see a typical Miniproject Marking Scheme

10) Coordinate peer review process

11) Between terms: Draft Course Schedule for next semester; coordinate lecturers' meeting if necessary

12) Manage MediaWiki:Sidebar

TA_Meetings

Submit agenda item for TA Meetings

View Meeting Minutes

View TA Meetings - Action Items

SMA

Possible future assignments

Advanced Exercises for Practicals

Once practicals have stabilized in the form of a course handbook:

- assign TAs (including free-and-easy TAs) to a particular practical; ask them to prepare advanced/optional exercises, based on their own research, that will reinforce the principles of the core practical.

test

- Rationales:

1) Better learning experience for the TAs

2) Inject current research problems into the practicals