Typical TA Responsibilities

The duties for a TA will vary from course to course and somewhat from instructor to instructor, but often include the following:

Attending course lectures.

Check with your supervising instructor regarding whether this is required, recommended, or optional. Even if you know the material thoroughly, for first-time TAs it is often useful so you know how the instructor approached a given topic.

Preparing for and leading discussion or lab sessions.

Sometimes lesson plans are provided for these class components, but you will almost always have some flexibility to add your own touch to presentations.

Responding to student questions.

These questions might occur during lab or discussion sessions, during regularly scheduled office hours, or via email inquiries. This might include inquiries regarding exams or other graded material, questions regarding grading, questions regarding improving study tactics, or medical or personal dilemmas.

Grading examinations and other course assignments.

This might involve the mechanical aspects of test scoring at Testing & Evaluation, or reading and grading student written work. You can expect guidance from your supervising instructor in these tasks.

Writing exams or other shared tasks with the instructor.

Maintaining student records.

This might involve storing and displaying student grades in Canvas, or some other system used by your instructor.

Communicating with your supervising instructor.

It is critical for students to see the instructor and TA as unified. To accomplish that there will be training and consultation sessions.  Be sure to keep the instructor informed about any particular difficulties (with material, grading, or individual students).