Teaching Guidelines

This page is mainly for the benefit of teaching assistants, but could also serve as a useful reference for faculty.

Importance of Recitations

Recitations serve a number of functions for students, faculty, and teaching assistants.

For Students, recitations represent the opportunity to review major conceptual points, see the application of ideas in solving problems, receive guidance in their own problem-solving, and get more personal attention to their questions than may be possible in lecture.

For faculty, the recitation allows a second voice to emphasize points made in lecture. It also facilitates a smoother lecture style. The recitation instructor can often give the faculty member better feedback on student performance than the faculty member can get in lecture.

For the teaching assistant, teaching recitation can be one of the best learning experiences in his/her career. In order to teach a subject well, one really needs to understand the subject; teaching assistants are forced to learn their material thoroughly! If one intends to stay in academia, one will have to be able to teach, thus teaching recitation is excellent experience! If one intends to graduate into industry, one must be able to present findings at meetings, perhaps lead groups, teach interns, and possibly handle public relations; again, teaching recitations is exceptional experience!

Importance of Laboratories

Laboratories serve many of the same functions as recitations but also allow hands-on observation, independent analysis, and handling and interpretation of errors. For experiments run concurrently with the introduction of their underlying concepts in lecture, the lab experience can heighten student understanding!

Importance of the Resource Room

The Resource Room is important in that it allows students to obtain individualized attention to their questions. Students and teaching assistants can benefit from the interplay and sharing of ideas. Teaching Assistants need to be aware that demonstration materials are available to them to help reinforce understanding of new concepts.

The Zeroth Law of Teaching:

Know when and where you are scheduled to teach and BE THERE!

(Named by Frank Tabakin)

Corollary

If an unavoidable circumstance prohibits your showing up as scheduled, make EVERY EFFORT to arrange for alternate coverage. If you are sick and all else fails, immediately inform the instructor for whom you are working as Teaching Assistant, and inform Leyla Hirschfeld (624-9066) or someone else in the Physics and Astronomy main office so a note can be left to tell students that your class is canceled.

General Guidelines for Teaching

1. Try to make eye contact during class (without staring).
2. Set aside one or more dedicated Office Hours during the week and Be There.
3. As with scheduled contact hours, if you must miss an office hour for any reason, please try to inform students in advance or at least leave a highly visible note on your door.
4. Be on time for class.
5. If you are not sure of the answer to a question, say so, and do what you can to find the answer after class. Do not proceed blindly appearing that you know what you don't.
6. It is OK to be friendly to students, but avoid being a ``buddy.'' Always treat students with respect and common courtesy and act in a way which will earn you the same treatment from them. Be aware of different tastes and sensitivities: avoid foul language and inappropriate references.
7. Keep careful records of all grades, making photocopies (or printouts) at appropriate intervals so that you have a backup, and keep grade sheets in inconspicuous places. Do not leave grades on your desk while you are away. Also keep a record of any special agreements with students (e.g. OK, you can turn this in to my mailbox by tomorrow...).