New TA? Questions to Ask Your Faculty Supervisor

To help the semester go smoothly, it’s important that you and your supervisor are on the same page, whether you are a first time or experienced TA. Your supervisor will probably provide you with a lot of the information you need to understand the course and your role, but they may not know what you don’t know. These questions can help you identify what more you need to know to be a successful TA. Keep in mind that not all questions will apply to all types of TA assignments.

About the Course:

• What are the learning goals and objectives in this course?
• How is the class organized (especially with respect to discussion or lab sections, if relevant)?
• What concepts and/or assignments have students struggled with in the past?
• What did students really like about the course in the past?
• What aspects of the course have students been less enthusiastic about?
• What resources are available to get up to speed on the material?

About My Role:

• What are your expectations of me as a TA? What are my weekly duties?
• Do you expect me to attend the lecture? If so, what am I expected to do during the lecture?
• Do you have guidelines for drop-in (office) hours? (onsite, online, preference for days/times in coordination with other TAs and the instructor, general goals for office hours)
• When will I need to be available for in person or virtual meetings? Will I need to be in Charlottesville before or after the first and last day of classes (e.g. during the final exam period)?
• What do I need to accomplish in the discussion or lab sections?
• How much guidance will I have on what to do each week in my section? Will you provide discussion questions, activities, and in-class assignments, or will I design my own lessons?
• Are there resources available from past TAs, or a bank of possible class activities/lesson plans?
• Am I responsible for holding midterm/final review sessions?
• What should I do if I get sick and can’t attend a class I’m teaching?

Class Management:

• How are students expected to prepare for class and engage with class materials?
• Do you utilize Canvas? Which features? (Discussion forums? Assignments?)
• Are there educational technologies that I need to learn how to use? (e.g., Gradescope, Piazza)
• What is my role in administering exams and other assignments?
• Do you record attendance and participation in this class? What is my role in that process?

Grading:

• What’s your philosophy on grading and feedback in this class?
• What assignments am I responsible for grading?
• What are the criteria for success for the course assignments? Is there a rubric I should follow?
• What is the most important feedback I should give when grading?
• How long does it take you, on average, to grade (one exam/essay/problem set)? Do you have advice for making sure I spend a reasonable amount of time grading?
• Are the criteria for assigning grades clear?
• Who calculates the final course grades? What do I need to submit/send you at the end of the semester, and by what date?
• What records do I need to keep re: grades, attendance, etc.? Do I need to retain them after the end of the semester?

Conflict Resolution:

• Who reviews disputed grades?
• What should I do if there is conflict between students?
• What should I do if there are students who don’t respect me as a TA or attempt to pit me as the TA and you as the faculty member against each other?
• What should I do if I haven’t heard from a student in more than a week or two?
• What should I do if a student is not turning in assignments?

Professional Development:

• Establish regular check-ins: Can we set up weekly meetings with you and the other TAs?
• How will I receive feedback on my teaching? Will there be an opportunity where you’ll observe my teaching, or can I invite another faculty mentor to sit in on a class?
• Will I receive official student evaluations at the end of the semester? (This may depend on whether you’re a TA in charge of a discussion/lab section, a TA responsible for office hours/grading only, a grader, or a guest lecturer.)
• If there won’t be an official opportunity to get feedback from students on my teaching, how could I solicit feedback myself?
• Is there an opportunity for me to guest-lecture or deliver a mini-lecture to the whole class if I request to do so? What guidance and feedback would you be able to provide on my lecture?

This resource is adapted from the University of Illinois Chicago Center for the Advancement of Teaching Excellence.