TA Tips

This is a (not necessarily complete) listing of helpful hints that has been compiled with the assistance of various graduate students from the department to help you out over the years of your graduate career here at UT Chem & Biochem, in particular to help you survive while performing your teaching assignments. Comments in blockquotes are verbatim quotes from our graduate students. You are encouraged to send me comments/corrections/suggestions for additions so this can be a permanent resource for our departmental graduate students. The UT Office of Graduate studies also maintains a page of links useful to TAs. A TA Handbook, produced by the Chemistry Undergraduate Course office (WEL 2.212) for lower division course TAs, is available for anyone else to collect if you are interested.

The best way to figure things out here is to ask. Don't be shy. It is rare that you will have a question or problem that no one has ever faced before (other than your research of course). When you do ask, let whoever you are asking know that you are a Teaching Assistant, especially at the Undergraduate course office who have no way of knowing who you are unless you tell them.

“I think it would be beneficial if everyone was informed that taking initiative is the number one way to find things out. Wander around the campus, go into buildings, ask other students what's useful and where to go. It's a big place and if you need something done there is probably somewhere close to get what you need.”

Teaching questions

Why do I have a teaching assignment?
All chem & biochem graduate students have to teach two semesters as part of their degree requirements. In general, everyone teaches for their first year of grad school, unless they are on a scholarship or do not pass the language requirements. You may teach for more than two semesters if you do not have a professor who is willing or able to pay you as a research assistant (RA), or if you want to teach more.
Do I have any say in what teaching assignment I get?
In general, all first year graduate students are assigned as a TA for a lab course. Lecture TA positions are reserved for more advanced graduate students. In all future, you will be asked by the graduate office near the end of each semester to find out from your supervisor whether or not they will be paying you as an RA, or otherwise, that you will need a TA position. You can list your order of preference of teaching assignments, which will be taken into consideration after the preferences of the teaching faculty are considered.
How do I teach?
CH398T Supervised Teaching in Chemistry is a pedagogy class and is a required course for your degree that you will take in your first Fall, unless you do not pass your language test. This course will address many of your questions on teaching.
“Teaching takes a big time commitment and I always forget just how much time it all takes.”
“... although [you] have to be well prepared for each class, it's OK if [you] cannot answer some questions. It's better to not know and admit it than to start making stuff up.”
Is there any university support for teaching?
The Center for Teaching Effectiveness assists all UT teachers, and is part of the Division of Instructional Innovation and Assessment. They run workshops throughout the year, having a useful pedagogy library, provide individual consultations, etc. They have staff dedicated to TA support, a GSI (graduate student instructor) resource page and a program specifically for International TAs. They had a TA mailing list which is no longer active, but the archives have many useful articles. They run a workshop for first time TAs each year. The 2005 Graduate Student Colloquium: A Learner-Centered Approach is on Saturday, September 10th. It usually fills up, so register soon if you wish to attend.
What should I do before my first teaching day?
Your course instructor may have a set of organized meetings and trainings this week, or you may have to go hunting for your instructor. Ask them about the syllabus, the course, the roster, their expectations of you. Start revising the course material. Be as informed as you can be on the first class day. Start positively. Introduce yourself to your students, find some way to break the ice and start to get to know them, let them know of your expectations, run through how this course is going to run for the semester and what your part is in it all. Be enthusiastic.
Who can I talk to about teaching problems?
The instructor of the course. The CH398T instructors. Someone in the Graduate Student Instructor program. Your peers. The department graduate office. Do not assume everything is ok. In particular, if you have trouble with a course instructor (e.g., you feel, after comparing with your peers, that the amount you are being asked to do is excessive), do not hesitate to talk to someone about it.
What happens if I find out that I love teaching?
You could do your graduate research in chemical education. The UT Graduate school runs a program called Professional Development and Community Engagement, which includes the Preparing Future Faculty internship and a number of professional development courses.

Course questions

What does a course name (CH wxyz) tell me about the course?
The first two or three letters tell you the department: CH is in our department. The first digit (w) tells you how much credit the course is worth. If the second digit and third digits (x) are between 01 and 19, the course is lower division, meaning freshman or sophomore, between 20 and 79, the course is upper division, meaning junior or senior, and between 80 and 99, it's a graduate course. A fourth character (z) may be used to designate courses that are designed in separate parts taught in separate semesters.
How do I get class rosters and why do I care?
The course instructor will have a print out of the course roster sent to them on the first day of class. Students can add or drop from a course until the twelfth class day, at which point the roster is fixed. A twelfth class day roster will be sent to the instructor. Someone (you or the instructor) needs to check the roster both on the first and twelfth class days. Any discrepancies must be dealt with. Your course instructor can use UTDirect to use your UTEID to designate you as one of their TAs. Then you will be able to download rosters yourself using UTDirect. Along with the list of courses you are taking, once you have been so designated, UTDirect should list the courses you are instructing, which will give you access to names, photos, and email addresses of students in your section. The TA Handbook, available in the Chemistry Undergraduate Course office (WEL 2.212), outlines in more detail how to download and print both text and photo rosters for your class.
Are there any differences between teaching lecture and lab classes?
The large number of lab sections and consequently the large TA teaching teams, require a lot of organization to keep things running smoothly and to ensure that concerns such as instruction, assessment and safety are kept uniform and consistent across all sections. This means that most lab TAs are required to attend extensive training and regular meetings, usually run by a Lab Director or Coordinator. Lecture TA positions are generally available only to more senior graduate students. You are more independent as a lecture TA, and are often the only TA for the course. You work directly for the professor who gives the lectures, and duties vary widely. All lecture TAs will also be given a proctoring assignment, to help proctor the exams for another course.
Are there any differences between teaching lower and upper division classes?
Lower division classes are service classes for the university. These classes are attended by many students who are not Chem/Biochem majors. Numbers of students in lower division classes can be large; e.g., CH301 this fall has five classes of ~480 each. Upper division classes are smaller, and more often for our own majors. The Chemistry Undergraduate Course office services students, instructors and TAs for all courses.
What's this about student surveys?
All teaching assistants and many instructors are the subject of student surveys at the end of each semester. The surveys are taken anonymously by your students and the results are sent to you in the middle of the semester following the semester in which the survey was taken. You will be sent a list of the average scores for each question received by all instructors in the college and your scores. These scores are available to all students and faculty via the web. Any comments written by your students will be returned to you. You should keep these, e.g., they can help you apply for teaching awards.

Room questions

How do I find a location given its UT building and room number? (e.g., exam rooms are often far from Welch)
Each three letter building code stands for a building name which can be located on University maps. Note: WEL is Robert A. Welch Hall. WCH is W.C. Hogg Building. These two buildings are right next to each other and confuse many people. The first digit of a room number indicates the floor. In Welch, the second digit of a room number indicates the wing. When lost in Welch, remember that there is a map in every wing on every floor.
Do I get an office?
You will be assigned a temporary office during orientation week. This is your office for work, and research. Most teaching assignments have a different room for your office hours/help sessions. Take advantage of this. Do not tell students the location of your work office or laboratory.
“Never hold office hours in your lab.”
Encourage students to only contact you during your office hours or class/lab times, or via email.
“I might suggest saying a word or two about the student who discovers where your office is and stops by whenever he or she feels like it regardless of scheduled office hours.”
Do not tell your students the phone number of your work office or lab (or home). Note we recommend that you tell UT not to release your home address and phone number, by using UTDirect > SiteMap > Personal Info > All my addresses and checking the "Do not release Home phone number" and "Do not release Local Address" boxes. Do a UT directory search on yourself to see what everyone can see.
What if I'm locked out? (e.g., if you leave your keys at home, or lock them in your office.)
Rooms booked for classes should be unlocked at class time. During business hours, you can borrow a master key from the chairman's office, WEL 2.310, 1-3949. After hours, you should call campus police (911), who will ask to see your UT ID.
How do I reserve a room? (e.g., to set up your own extra help/review session for your students)
Contact the Chemistry Undergraduate Course office, WEL 2.212, 1-1567.
How do I get into Welch after hours? (i.e., you realize that research is not a 9-5 weekday job, or you are behind in your grading.)
As well as your office (and lab) keys, you get a Welch building key for all outside doors. It doesn't work well on some doors due to an unfortunate superglue incident. There are some building doors that are usually unlocked on weekends. Get to know where they are.
How do I use the UT phone codes?
If the phone number you are given is four digits xxxx, then dial 1-xxxx on campus, or 471-xxxx off campus. For 2-xxxx, dial 2-xxxx on campus, or 232-xxxx off campus. For 5-xxxx, dial 5-xxxx on campus, or 475-xxxx off campus. To dial off-campus from a UT phone, dial 9 for an outside line. To make an official (not personal) long distance call from a UT phone, you will need a special code to charge your call to your professor's account. Ask someone in the research group, or the division secretary.

Computer questions

Do I need a UT email address?
A UT email address is free. You need to have email and check it regularly - at least daily, preferably more often. The Unversity, the department, the graduate office and many course instructors use email as the sole means of communicating with you. Make sure both the graduate office and UT know your current email address at all times, using the "My addresses" option on UTDirect. We recommend you use your email address as the way for students to contact you, and many professors will expect that they will be able to communicate quickly with you via email. The computing essentials webpage gives you links telling you how to get your @mail.utexas.edu email address, how to get dial-up internet access from home via UT Telesys, etc. We recommend you consider keeping your @hotmail or @yahoo type address for personal email and get a UT email for work email. UT email is guaranteed to work, rarely goes down and doesn't lose mail. You can't say the same for free email accounts such as hotmail. To help you access both accounts, you can set up one email to forward to the other account. You can use the web to access UT mail, but it's slower than a popmail program such as Eudora or Outlook. There is a problem sending attachments to hotmail accounts. Many professors want to send you attachments (answer keys, homework sets, lecture notes, etc.) As a UT student, you can download a lot of internet-related software that UT has licensed for you, from the BevoWare site.
What computer facilities are available in the Chem & Biochem Department?
Departmental computer services highlights include two large computer labs (WEL 2.306 & 2.302) downstairs by the chairman's office and an instructional media lab (WEL 3.428) which has a range of hardware and software available for loan to faculty and graduate students; e.g., laptops and computer projectors can be reserved for class use. Assistance is available if you want to develop multimedia products to support your teaching. Color printers are available so you can make color transparencies. A large poster printer (Cesium) is available for reservation.
What multimedia facilities are available in all lecture rooms?
All lecture rooms should have an overhead projector, and a whiteboard and/or chalkboard. Do not assume that there will be chalk/whiteboard markers. Bring your own (see later about where to get them). For problems with any of the equipment, contact the Media Consult Help Desk at 1-9666.
What is a technology classroom?
The College of Natural Sciences is adding computer and multimedia systems to many of our lecture rooms, creating "technology classrooms". If you TA a class held in a technology classroom, orientation sessions are given at the start of each semester to teach you how to use the system, although much of the system is intuitive and can be learned through on-line instructions. To see what is available in a particular classroom and for instructions on how to use this technology, see the technology classrooms website. You will need to pick up a key for most multimedia consoles at WCH 3.104 (1-3285). If you have questions or experience equipment malfunctions, call 2-9173 or 1-9666. If you have an emergency question of problem, the Chemistry Undergraduate Course office may be able to help, WEL 2.212, 1-1567.
What about the web?
You will get instruction on web authoring as part of CH398T and we will tell you of other places on campus to learn more. If you are asked to assist with web sites for course material, there are mechanisms to set this up through departmental computer services and be listed on the departmental course website directory.
What is the online homework system?
The online homework service set up by the physics department is in use by most freshman chemistry classes. You will need to know how to use it if you are teaching freshman classes, and you may want to consider using it in classes you teach that are not already using this service. Instructions on how to use the online homework system is in the TA Handbook available at the Chemistry Undergraduate Course office (WEL 2.212).
How do I deal with Scantron answer sheets?
Large classes use scantron forms to automate the grading of homework, quizzes and exams. The Chemistry Undergraduate Course office (WEL 2.212, 1-1567) has a scanner that reads and grades scantron answer sheets.
How do I access the library online resources when I'm not at UT?
Our library system has subscribed to a vast array of electronic resources, such as most of the scientific journals you would want to read regularly, most chemical reference, indexing and abstracting services, etc. This costs UT a lot of money, so the use of these materials online must be controlled so that only official UT people can access them. If you are on campus, or if you access the internet using UT TELESYS from home, then you can automatically access these materials. If you try to access these materials from elsewhere, you will asked for your UT EID before allowing you access.
What is WebSpace?
WebSpace is a web-interfaced file storage system provided free by UT to you. The system provides 75 MB of disk space that allows you to store copies of important documents (e.g. homework, notes, papers, data, theses, dissertations, graphics).You can also set up a directory that may be shared with others. In addition to storing private files, you may also use this space to publish a personal home page.

Help questions

Who, other than the course instructor, can I ask for help?
The Chemistry Undergraduate Course office are at your service, WEL 2.212, 1-1567. Here are some of the things this office does for TAs: help with student registration and rosters, check out textbooks and calculators, coordinate office hours and review sessions, stationary supplies, organize grading and proctoring for exams, storage, computers for generating and grading homework, quizzes and exams, grade recording, help with media problems.
I teach a lab course. Who can I ask for help?
Most lab classes have a one or more people who coordinate all the TAs teaching that each lab course. Several labs have a stockroom associated with them, with stockroom personnel who can also help. There is a Lab Coordinator who supervises all teaching stockrooms.
I teach an upper division or graduate lecture course. Who can I ask for help?
Your course instructor may have their own personal administrative assistant. Ask them if they do and if it is appropriate for you to use that person for course support. Otherwise, the divisional administrative assistant associated with the division of that course will help support your teaching. See the department directory listing of division assistants for their contact information.
I have questions about other aspects of my time here in graduate school. Who can I ask ?
First port of call would be Penny Kile or Heather Nathanson-Flowers in the department graduate office, WEL 2.218, 1-3890.

Supplies questions

How do I get overhead transparencies, whiteboard marker pens, stationary, chalk, etc.?
Ask the person listed above as the person helpful for your course, or drop by the Chemistry Undergraduate Course office.
How do I make photocopies?
The Chemistry Undergraduate Course office has a copier for lower division course TAs. Upper division TAs, ask the person listed above whether there is a divisional copier, or else ask them for a copy card. Copy cards can be used in the library on the faculty copiers or for the copier in the mailroom. If you have a large number of copies to make, your support staff can tell you how to take your originals to the nearest UT Copy Center (WEL 2.228, 1-1657).
How do I get multimedia equipment, e.g., computers and projectors?
See the Computer questions section.
How do I get a textbook for the course I teach?
The Chemistry Undergraduate Course office loans textbooks for most classes. Other than that, ask your instructor. You may be able to borrow one from them or the library for the semester.

Service questions

Where do I go to get lab equipment or apparatus built or repaired?
Glass Shop: for glassblowing, design, construction and repair, see Michael Ronalter (WEL 2.146, 1-7093)
Machine shop: for wood and metal work, construction and repair, borrowing tools, see Lee Benson (WEL 2.140, 1-7106).
Instrument repair: for electronic instrument repair and vacuum pump oil changes, see Steve Hilsberg (WEL 3.210, 1-5354).
Where do I get lab supplies, chemicals, etc?
This is usually looked after by the lab coordinators and stockroom personnel, but you will need to know this for research anyway. Brian in the Fisher Research Storeroom WEL 1.202, 1-7384 is the person to see. Do not transport chemicals in the regular elevators. Use the freight elevator. You must transport chemical bottles using a rubber safety bucket, or on a trolley. The Research storeroom is totally computerized now. Once you have joined a research group you'll get access to an account so you can place orders on line. Note that in addition to the chemistry research storeroom, there are several other storerooms that stock items that are not carried in our department (e.g., biological sciences storeroom ESB 7, physics storeroom RLM ??,)
Where do I get refills for gas cylinders?
Most gas cylinders are rented from the gas supplier. When you run out of gas, use a gas cylinder trolley and the freight elevator to return the gas cylinder to the Fisher Research Storeroom (WEL 1.202). Leave the empty cylinder in the "empties" area, exchanging it for a full one. Don't forget to fill in the paperwork.
Don't forget the Pickle campus.
The J.J. Pickle Research Campus is located in northwest Austin at the corner of Braker Lane and Burnet Road. It houses a range of different research centers and associated facilities there that many of you may find useful during your time at UT.
What about the library?
You'll go on a library introductory tour during orientation week through the chemistry library (Mallet, WEL 2.132). Realize that there are other libraries on campus that can be of use to you, including the Engineering library (ECJ 1.300), the Life Sciences library (MAI 220), and Physics Math Astronomy library (RLM 4.200). Course instructors can put books, answer keys, etc on reserve for their class. It is possible to set up an electronic library reserves file that you can add to during the semester. Ask the chemistry librarian Dave Flaxbart (5-4600) for more information on this.

Emergency questions

What should I know about safety in the chemistry building?
This week you will be given the standard set of lab safety classes required for all people working in this department (OH101 Hazard Communications, OH201 Lab Safety and OH205 Fire Extinguisher use). The first two of these classes are now taken online. Departmental Safety information includes links to online material safety data sheets, etc. Enviromental Health and Safety administers a number of other safety classes that you may be interested in taking and has a lot of lab safety information, including the UT lab safety manual, online.
What should I do if a medical situation occurs in my class?
Lab TAs will be given explicit instructions of what to do, involving notifying stockroom personnel, etc., administering first aid, and/or sending for help. If you judge the situation to be life-threatening, call emergency services at 9-911, and the UT police at 911. If not that dramatic, then call urgent care at the University Student Health Center 5-NURSE. If you judge it necessary, send the student (accompanied) to the health center main desk (SSB lobby) or to Urgent Care (SSB 1.408C) after hours.
What should I do if a fire alarm goes off while I'm teaching?
Lab TAs will be given explicit instructions of what to do. Get your class to stop what they are doing and leave in an orderly manner, taking their bags with them. Exit the building through the nearest stairwell, keeping your class together, and gather them in a group across the road from the building. Follow directions of the nearest fire marshal. You should have an idea of how many were in your class, and you should make sure that they have all exited the building by taking a head count.
What should I do if there is a chemical spill/fire in the room where I'm teaching?
Lab TAs will be given explicit instructions of what to do. Make a quick but informed decision of the level of severity of the incident. If you deem it necessary, set off the nearest fire alarm/use the nearest safety shower/call Enviromental Health and Safety (1-3511) and evacuate your class as above.

Student problems

What should I do if a student seems to be taking too many classes, or ill-prepared for this course?
The department undergraduate advising office would appreciate you bringing this to their attention (WEL 2.216, 1-3097).
What should I do if a student clearly can't read/write/take tests/use a calculator etc.?
Suggest that the student contact the University Learning Center. They offer tutoring, academic counseling, testing for learning disorders, and classes on topics such as stress management, exam taking, and study skills. They welcome walk-in students, and also meet by appointment (JES A322A, 1-3614).
What should I do if I suspect a student of plagiarism or cheating?
There will be a presentation by Student Judicial Services in our CH398T class on this topic. Do not accuse the student immediately. When proctoring exams you cannot stop a student from finishing their exam. Quietly ask another proctor to watch and see if they can corroborate what you think you saw. You may ask the student to move to another part of the room, but you may not prevent them from finishing their exam. Make sure you know the name of the student you suspect and the names of the nearby students whose work may have been copied. You may take any cheat sheets you find. If the problem is with submitted work, show the class instructor your evidence.
What should I do if I have a student who comes to me with personal problems, who is depressed, suicidal, or violent?
The counseling and medical health center is open for all registered UT students. They have a 24 hour/day, 7 day/week phone in line: 1-2255. You can call this number, tell them the situation, and arrange to walk the student over to the center for an on the spot meeting if you feel it is necessary. In a violent situation, call 911 to speak to the campus police, if possible.
What should I do if I have personal problems, or am depressed, suicidal, or violent?
In addition to the counseling and medical health center (you are a registered UT student) just described, you also have access to the employee assistance program in FAC 250, 1-3366, or 1-3399 for immediate assistance 24 hours/day.
Help !
One of your best support networks is your peers. CH398T works as a large group of people going through teaching for the first time together. There are other student groups you could join (at both the Department and University levels). When you are not taking or teaching classes, do not head for home. Sit in your office. Join in with the research group you are placed with. Get to know other graduate students in the department. They are your best source of support and inspiration, let alone the way you find out what is going on.