Being a Lecture TA

Preparing for Lecture

Occasionally, the professor(s) send(s) out the lecture exercises ahead of time in a discord channel for lecture TAs, in which case, you can look at the handout ahead of time to prepare. In general, you can look over the handout (alongside other lecture TAs) at the start of lecture and/or while passing them out at the start of class. Usually, there are no additional materials to look at ahead of time; it is, however, expected that you are familiar with the concepts to be presented in lecture.

During Lecture

The professor(s) implement(s) the think-pair-share active learning technique in their lectures. At points throughout the lecture, they will give the students a certain time period to work on a question or problem (usually an exercise on the handout). During this period, lecture TAs walk around the room helping students as they work with the people around them. The profesor(s) have small whiteboards and dry erase markers that you can borrow and use during lecture. They are super useful in drawing out examples and/or concepts! Below are situations you might face during this "TA walk-around" time, as well as how to handle them.

What do I do if no one is raising their hand to ask questions?

Lecture TAs generally sit at the back of the room while the professor(s) are talking. When students are working, however, rather than staying unseen in the back, you should move to the front, making yourself present and available. Additionally, you can take the initiative to walk around casually asking students how they are doing.

I've come to talk to a student/group of students. What are some things I can do?

If they have a clarification question or a conceptual question, you can clarify quickly and/or thoroughly explain the concept. In general, if they're stuck on the professor(s)'s question/problem, the purpose, like in OH, is to get them unstuck. You will generally not be walking them through the whole process. You can employ similar scaffolding techniques as you would in OH, such as asking the students questions to prompt them.

Regarding timing, you should spend on the scale of 0.5-3 minutes with each student/group.

If you are talking to a group of students and one or more of them has “got it”, you can try giving the one(s) who “got it” a chance to explain and get the whole group unstuck, rather than having yourself be the one to do so.

The professor(s) called everyone back together, but I'm still explaining something to someone.

You can let them listen to the professor(s) so that they do not miss anything. Then, in the immediate next chance (e.g., next time the professor(s) let(s) students work on a problem), you talk to them first (they are essentially at the "front of your queue") and check in on them.

The student(s) I'm helping just asked me for the answer to the exercise. What do I do?

If they don't have an answer already, you can tell them that you cannot give them the answer and briefly explain why not. One phrase you can use is, "I want you to have agency over your work." Then, you can offer to have them explain any ideas they have so far, or to give them a starting point if they do not yet have one.

If they do have an answer already, you can ask them to explain their answer to you. If they explain it and anything is wrong, you can latch onto that. If nothing is wrong, you can say, "I don't immediately see any issues with what you said, but that doesn't mean I haven't missed something."

A student raised their hand, but they're in the very center of the crowd and there's no way to get to them.

If possible, you can go to the row in front of or behind them. Unfortunately, if that doesn't apply, the only way might be to maneuver yourself to stand as close to them as possible and speak loudly to each other back and forth.

After Lecture:

Once lecture ends, some students will linger and have more questions. If there are any students whose questions you weren’t able to get to in time, you can check in with them briefly as they’re leaving (if they don’t seem to be in a hurry).

There also tends to be a post-lecture meeting in which TAs communicate feedback on how lecture went to the professor(s). (This is more like a post-lecture hangout, though. The setting is chill and attending is optional.)