Life as a GTA in ECE The Hong

Life as a GTA in ECE The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Department of Electronic & Computer Engineering TA coordinators 2017 -2018 Liwen JING & Xuanqi Chen 08/24/2017 GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST 1

RUNDOWN q. GTA Training Program (compulsory for ECE full-time RPg students, especially PGS recipients) q. Spoken English Test (ELPA) (compulsory) q. PDEV 6770 (compulsory) q. GTAs in ECE § TA Assignment Process § TA Duties § Communication skills with course instructor and students § Getting help q. Q&A 08/24/2017 GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST 2

GTA Training Program q. Why? § Postgraduate studentship(PGS) recipients are required to be TA or RA. § GTA Training Program will prepare you the essential skills and knowledge in performing TA duties. q. What are they? § 6 compulsory and 9 elective workshops 08/24/2017 GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST 3

GTA Training Program q. How to register? § http: //cei. ust. hk/gta-training-program § Space is limited and advance registration is highly recommended for workshops offered in August to November. § Online registration is available on 25 August 2017. § All workshops are held at classroom 6558 (lift 27/28). q. When to finish them? § Within the first 4 terms of study, but we strongly recommend you to finish all 6 core workshops in the first term of study if possible. q. What happens next? § You will be presented a certificate in May. 08/24/2017 GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST 4

Spoken English Test (ELPA) q. Website: http: //cle. ust. hk/tests/elpa/postgraduates/ q. Interview Format § 8 mins in total § 3 stages (warm-up (1 min), dialogue (4 min) and monologue(3 -4 min)) q. Students who receive scores lower than Level 3 in any of the assessment criteria in the speaking test, or who fail to take the Test in the 1 st term of study are required to take LANG 5000 Foundation in Listening and Speaking for Postgraduate Students. 08/24/2017 GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST 5

PDEV 6770 q. Professional development for research postgraduate students q. Please follow the instructions in Wendy’s emails or check the RPg Intranet http: //course. ee. ust. hk/pginfo/ PDEV 6770 (Profession Development) 08/24/2017 GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST PDEV 6770 (Profession Development) 6

TA Assignment Process q. TA Assignment: Indicate your preference online § http: //course. ee. ust. hk/pginfo/TA_Preference_Form. htm § Must include at least one ELEC course at 4000 level, e. g. ELEC 4210 q. Result will be notified before the term commences q. Please contact your course instructor ASAP. q. Postgraduate Studentship § TA’s duty as part of the requirement of the PG Studentship § All new RPgs are required to take a spoken English test: ELPA (English Language Proficiency Assessment) § LANG 5000: Foundation in Listening and Speaking for Postgraduate Students 08/24/2017 GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST 7

TA Assignment: select your preference online 08/24/2017 GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST 8

TA Duties q. Marking & Grading q. Instructing laboratories & Conducting tutorials q. Students consultation: TA office hour & email q. Maintaining course webpage q. Exam invigilation q. Optional: Attending lecture § If you are not familiar with the course 08/24/2017 GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST 9

Communication Skills with Course Instructor and Students q. WHAT are the major channels to communicate with your instructor & students? 08/24/2017 With Instructor With Students Mainly by email Regular meeting Meet during office hours Ask students to set an Set an appointment by email if outside of office hours GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST 10

Communication Skills with Course Instructor and Students q. HOW should TA communicate with course instructor & students in a profession manner? With Instructor With Students Behave professionally (as a Prepare the questions before the teacher) when meeting with meeting students If you don’t know the answer and Send the questions and any need some time to search for it, relevant documents to the let the students know WHEN you instructor BEFORE the meeting will reply them (e. g. by Friday) 08/24/2017 GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST 11

TA Evaluation by Students q. Typical Question List for Students 08/24/2017 ID Question 967 How well did the TA prepare for the tutorials in general? 968 How well did the TA explain things to you? 969 How often did the TA give you the chance to participate actively in class? 970 Do you think the TA has a solid knowledge of the subject matter of this course? 971 How often was the TA able to help you when you had a question in your coursework? 972 How easy was it to reach the TA outside of class? 973 How efficient was the TA in responding to the questions you posted online (email or online forums)? 974 How often was the TA able to give you back the graded assignments/tests/reports in time? 975 Is the feedback given by the TA about your assignments/tests/reports useful in general? 976 Is the TA helpful in general? 977 Overall, how do you find the tutorials? 980 How well did the TA prepare for laboratory sections in general? 982 Overall, how do you find the laboratory section? GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST 12

Getting help from Department q. Check the Notes to TA here http: //course. ee. ust. hk/pginfo/PG_Info_PDF/Notes to TA. pdf § Student list of the course – download student enrollment roster through the Canvas system § Student mailing list -> check ITSC website (http: //lists. ust. hk/cgibin/itsc/courselist/dept. pl? dept=ELEC) § Metal box (to collect homework) -> ask Rita (Rm. 2457) § IT: course web, software -> ask eehelp@ece. ust. hk § Borrow the course text book -> go to IT/TA Office (Room 3114) § Course photocopy service -> use the photocopier in Room 2457/3114 08/24/2017 GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST 13

Getting help from TACs Experienced Peer for GTAs “Bridge” between Dept and GTAs q. Contact TACs Xuanqi CHEN & Liwen JING § Email: xchenbr@ust. hk & ljing@connect. ust. hk § Email: eetac@ust. hk q. Consultations on TAs duties § Helping TAs to overcome any difficulties during TA jobs q. Organizing activities for TAs, such as career talks, social/ recreational activities q. Classroom observation PGC 08/24/2017 GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST CEI TAC Dept 14

Useful Information q. ECE PG Info http: //course. ee. ust. hk/pginfo/ PQE, Credit transfer, Thesis, etc q. Campus Map A full campus map can be found on: http: //publish. ust. hk/univ/maps/Campus_Map_Color. pdf q. Path Advisor Rooms locations are organized by lift number. E. g. Room 1031 is located between Lifts 1 and 2. You may search for room lift number by visiting this website: http: //pathadvisor. ust. hk/ 08/24/2017 GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST 15

Opening ITSC Accounts q ITSC account Login every system, like my. Portal, HKUST email, Computer Barn login etc. https: //cas. ust. hk/cas/login? service=http: //my. ust. hk/Login q ECE Unix account Mainly login to ECE Linux Computers for using different specific software (Cadence, Synopsys etc. ) http: //course. ee. ust. hk/pginfo/PG_Info_PDF/Form_UNIX_account. pdf q my. Portal https: //cas. ust. hk/cas/login? service=http: //my. ust. hk/Login Path advisor, Library, Sports facilities booking, Course registration, Webmail, etc. 08/24/2017 GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST 16

ECE Department General Office q Room 2457, Lift 25/26 08/24/2017 GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST 17

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