- Goals
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Welcome to CETL 8000 PHY! This course is for Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs)
and is designed to familiarize you with the important policies, procedures, and skills
needed to be an effective GTA at Georgia Tech. Some of the benefits you will get from
successfully completing this course include:
- An understanding of the important policies you need to know as an instructor (and as a student!)
- A familiarity with campus resources available to you as a GTA and as a graduate student
- An introduction to the essential skills needed for teaching
| Instructor: | Eric R. Murray |
| Office: | W-105, Howey Physics Building |
| Phone: | 404/385-1080 |
| Email: | eric.murray@physics.gatech.edu |
| Office hours: | TBA |
| and by appointment in W-105 |
- Required Course Texts
- Teaching at Georgia Tech: A Handbook for Faculty, Instructors, and Teaching Assistants. This is available free of charge to all new GTAs and will be distributed at the campus TA orientation.
- Course Description
- This is a seminar course that will utilize resources in both the School of Physics and in the Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL), which coordinates campus-wide programs for GTAs. You will participate in a number of activities, including a campus TA orientation and a campus seminar program for GTAs.
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Your objectives for the course are
- To become familiar with the important campus resources and policies for teaching assistants
- To understand fundamental instructional methods and concepts related to teaching and learning
- To develop specific skills required for teaching Physics courses
- Course Requirements and Grading
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This course is graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. To receive a Satisfactory grade
and satisfy departmental requirements for your training as a Teaching Assistant, you will be asked
to complete several structured activities throughout the semester.
- Attendance at the Georgia Tech Teaching Assistant Orientation Program
- This orientation, sponsored by CETL, will be held on Sunday, August 20, from 1:30–6:00pm, with a dinner and social event immediately following. More information may be found at http://www.cetl.gatech.edu/services/tas/orientation.htm.
- For International Teaching Assistants, there will be an additional orientation on Saturday, August 19, from 9:30am–12:00noon. Details may also be found at http://www.cetl.gatech.edu/services/tas/ita_orientation.htm.
- Completion of the TAWeb Assessment
- TAWeb is a series of online modules designed to assist you in learning important policies, procedures, and practices related to your work as a TA. The website is http://www.cetl.gatech.edu/taweb/. You will need to read and understand each module and then take the online TAWeb Assessment. Your score will be recorded to verify that you have passed this assessment. This should be completed by class on August 29. Bring the printout of your answers and score with you to class on the 29th.
- TA Seminar & Workshop Program
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The course will meet weekly from 11:00am–12:00noon. Please note rooms and locations
as they may vary from week to week. Attendance is mandatory at all sessions. If you must
be absent, please email Dr. Murray. If you miss more than 2 class sessions
without a satisfactory excuse, you will receive a
U
for the course. - Two optional (but recommended) workshops are available for International Teaching Assistants. Each is a two-hour session, from 4:00–6:00pm (note new time!!), in O'Keefe 213.
Date Topic Location Aug 22 Tue Introduction N-110 29 Tue Overview of TAWeb Assessment N-110 Sep 05 Tue Classroom and Lab Management Wilby 12 Tue Discussion: Classroom Management N-110 19 Tue Academic Integrity Wilby 26 Tue Discussion: Academic Integrity N-110 Oct 03 Tue Active Learning and Teaching Wilby 10 Tue Discussion: Active Learning N-110 17 Tue No Meeting 26 Thu Classroom Assessment Techninques Wilby 31 Tue Discussion: Classroom Assessment N-110 Nov 07 Tue Teaching and Learning Styles Wilby 14 Tue Discussion: Teaching and Learning Styles N-110 21 Tue Microteaching N-110 28 Tue Microteaching N-110 Dec 05 Tue Microteaching N-110 The Wilby Room is in the Library Basement.
N-110 is the first-floor Physics Conference Room.Date Topic Sep 07 Thu Fielding Questions, Handling Conflict, Encouraging Rapport 28 Thu Holding Office Hours and Providing Feedback