TEACHING ASSISTANT TA ORIENTATION Faculty of Engineering Mining

TEACHING ASSISTANT (TA) ORIENTATION Faculty of Engineering Mining & Materials Engineering Feb. 21, 2014 Mc. Gill University Faculty of Engineering

WELCOME TAs in ENGINEERING! Mc. Gill University Faculty of Engineering

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES The Faculty of Engineering is committed to making the teaching experience a rewarding and positive learning experience for all involved. Mc. Gill University Faculty of Engineering

Rights of the TAs and rights of the Course Instructor or Course Lecturer (CL): • The employment contracts are between the TA and Mc. Gill University; • For any questions or concerns, a TA is invited to talk to his/ her Course Instructor or a contact person in the Department or School; • Mc. Gill’s TA positions, as well as the CL positions are unionized and their collective agreements need to be respected; the TA union is: A. G. S. E. M. (Assoc. of Graduate Students Employed at Mc. Gill) • Course Instructors and Course Lecturers have management rights for the employment relationship. Mc. Gill University Faculty of Engineering

Responsibilities (1/2) Responsibilities of the TA: • Depending upon the TA assignment, responsibilities can include: – – – Grading assignments, exams and laboratory reports Organizing and instructing laboratory sessions Giving tutorials Holding office hours and mentoring students Generating/updating course web sites Mc. Gill University Faculty of Engineering

Responsibilities (2/2) Responsibilities of the Course Instructor or CL: • Once the TAs is appointed, the Course Instructor arranges to meet with the TA • This one-on-one meeting provides the opportunity for a clear mutual understanding of the: – – Rights and responsibilities of the TA Role of the collective agreement (AGSEM) Definition of the expectations and tasks Finalization of the hours of work and workload form Mc. Gill University Faculty of Engineering

BUILDING Good RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN TAS AND STUDENTS Mc. Gill University Faculty of Engineering

Building Relationships (1/2) Be professional • Your goal is to provide intellectual challenge along with instructional support • Know your subject and convey the enthusiasm you have for it to your students • Be professional - be a teacher, not a “buddy” • Get to know your students: be respectful, consider for example cultural diversity Mc. Gill University Faculty of Engineering

Building Relationships (2/2) Trust, Respect, and Duties: • Build trust between you and the student, and you and the Course Instructor. • Be reliable. When you are supposed to be there, be there on time. • Respect deadlines – people count on you. • Prepare for your duties – prepare, prepare! • Treat your TA position as a job - you are expected to be available to cover all duties – this is a job. If you plan to attend a conference- you must arrange well in advance and gain permission to be away. Mc. Gill University Faculty of Engineering

SUPPORT Mc. Gill University Faculty of Engineering

References Support for TAs: • Attend the University AGSEM TA Training sessions: www. mcgill. ca/skillsets/calendar (The 3 hours are paid for first time TAs) • Attend the Engineering pedagogical workshops: Further details to follow; e. Handbook for Engineering TAs • Learn the Student Code of Conduct: www. mcgill. ca/files/studentrecords/Code_of_Student_Conduct. pdf • Adhere to Mc. Gill’s values and ethical conduct: www. mcgill. ca/students/srr/academicrights/integrity • Handbook on Student Rights and Responsibilities www. mcgill. ca/secretariat/policies/students/handbook-student-rights-andresponsibilitiesle-recueil-des-droits-et-obligations-d Mc. Gill University Faculty of Engineering

References And more support for TAs: • Mc. Gill’s Assessment Policy https: //www. mcgill. ca/secretariat/sites/mcgill. ca. secretariat/files/univer sity_student_assessment_policy_0. pdf • Fact sheets: Discrimination Fact Sheet (2013) and Harassment Fact Sheet (2013). • Helping Students in Difficulty from Dean of Students - Andre Costopoulos andre. costopoulos@mcgill. ca And - Don’t be shy: When in doubt, ASK! If you have questions, ask the Course Instructor first. Mc. Gill University Faculty of Engineering

Mc. Gill University Faculty of Engineering

Mc. Gill University Faculty of Engineering

Mc. Gill University Faculty of Engineering

Mc. Gill University Faculty of Engineering

Mc. Gill University Faculty of Engineering

QUESTIONS? Mc. Gill University Faculty of Engineering