Deltap Orientation 2012

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Tips and Tricks

to make the most
of your time as a teacher
Viviana Acquaviva
vacquaviva@physics.rutgers.edu
Research Associate, Serin 311W
A bit of history
of my teaching experience
2008: Graduate-level series of lectures, cosmology
2008-2011: Prison Teaching (lecturing, grading

elementary, intermediate, advanced algebra)
2009-2010: Substitute Lecturer @ Rutgers (non-majors)

intro Astronomy&Cosmology
2011: Lecturer @ Rutgers (full course, non-majors)

intro Astronomy&Cosmology
Discussion item:
What are your duties

as Tas?
What do you want to get
out of your teaching experience?
Scenario 1 Scenario 2
Just to get Personal/professional

over with it. reward.
e.g., e.g.,
Need the money/ Want to gain teaching experience
need to fulfill some and gather good reviews
requirements to apply for teaching jobs
The answer should determine how much
time you spend on teaching preparation,
but whatever that time is, make the most of it.
If you do it, no matter the reason, do it as well as you can.
1. Self - respect. Why be bored and frustrated

when you could be happy and fulfilled
2. You never know what could be useful. A random

positive evaluation or connection might get you
your next job.
Scenario 1. You don’t care that much (it’s OK).
Objective: minimize time spent on task while keeping

the level reasonably high
(you don’t want negative reviews. Ever. They will hurt you.)
Preparation time: Classroom time:

can be kept to a minimum needs to be your best asset
Do know what you will be Be nice and patient.

talking about (read lab notes,
etc). Show enthusiasm.
Do spend 1/2 hour thinking Don’t be complacent.

of how you will explain the lab
in advance. It’s good practice Forget about that ipod/laptop,
for talks anyway. even cell phone.
Scenario 2. You care a lot.
Objective: maximize outcome (experience, reviews, exposure,
impact on your CV) without spending all your time on it.
Preparation time: Classroom time:

this one will be key previous guidelines also apply
Focus on your goal
Be prepared
Be confident
Be helpful
Have more fun!

What is your goal as a teacher?
Of course, teach. But there are many different

objectives you might have for yourself and for
the students. For example, you might want to:
Use lectures to improve your ability to speak in public
Become more detail-oriented
Favor the growth of the class as a whole
Encourage especially the shyest students
Help the most brilliant students achieve their full potential

How can you be prepared
for your class?
Read the material well in advance. A bit every day is a lot

better than everything at once. It’s amazing how much letting
ideas simmer will help.
Trick: at least start.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions to the lecturer or to suggest

that the material you are receiving needs to be improved.
Discussion item:
What is most difficult

in terms of preparation?
How can you be confident
in your class?
Being prepared is the #1 way. If you know you did your

homework, you will feel good about it.
Don’t listen too much to what others say about being

perceived in one way or another. It is fine to second your
personality and have your own style… unless you want to
take this chance for a fresh start.
Know that it gets easier and easier.
Know that it even if you are not happy with your job one
day, they will barely notice, and they won’t remember it.
How can you be most helpful
to your students?
Just be there and give them your full attention.

They will be more likely to ask you the questions they
don’t feel like asking the lecturer, and they will appreciate it.
If you realize you gave a wrong answer, or could have given

a better explanation, don’t be shy in talking about it in the
following class.
Practice thinking as if you didn’t know any advanced math

or physics. It’s not easy, but it will help. If you have the time,
think ahead of an extra example besides what’s in the notes.
Think of what you would like if you were in their place.

How to have more fun?
Mix it up!
Organize group
activities
Go to the TA seminars
(I did it). You will get great
new ideas.
Read something about the

subject and tell them about it.
How to have more fun?
Mix it up!
Organize group
activities
Go to the TA seminars
(I did it). You will get great
new ideas.
Read something about the

subject and tell them about it.
Example
TA Seminar: Creative Teaching in the STEM disciplines

(4th year grad student in Math)
Great ideas: practical things I had not thought of

(state expectations/ insist on office hours/
tell them who you are and what you do
and get to know them as well)
worth-a-try strategies to boost interest
(group version on think-pair-share)
Will trigger more ideas just because you are making time
for thinking about your teaching strategy.
For me: a new (hopefully better) approach to final review

What if something is going wrong?
Fix it. Or at least, try.
If you don’t, it will generate

a sense of failure, which will
affect you even if you didn’t
care that much in first place.
1. If you suspect the students are not very happy with you
(and even if you don’t):
Get feedback. Ask the students to fill in a brief

anonymous survey mid-term and take it seriously.
Look at criticism as something that will make you better. Nobody is

great on their first attempt. Be humble and try to really listen to the
students’ suggestions. You will also learn something about yourself.
If a complaint is that you are not clear, ask a friend who isn’t a physicist
to listen to your lecture/lab explanation and let you know what is
confusing.
Ask your mentor (a faculty member or a postdoc, possibly; if not,

another student) to come to class once and give you his/her honest
criticism. It will be worth the pain.
2. If the course is taking far too much of your time:
Go back to your list of goals and re-organize your

time according to your priorities.
Cut time that you spend on less essential tasks; for example,
if your #1 goal was to practice public speaking but you don’t
particularly care about having excellent reviews, keep spending
time on rehearsing your lectures but spend less time thinking of
extra examples.
Discussion item:
What went wrong?

How did you fix it?
FOR THE RECORD…
If you are trying to gain exposure, eg, in view of job applications:
Consider making your work more “visible”.
Strategy # 1: Use social media for your class

(this idea comes again from a TA seminar)
Strategy # 2: Make a website for your class

(that’s what I did).
Great way to show that you care, and the
students will like it.
http://www.physics.rutgers.edu/~vacquaviva/web/Phy110.html
A FINAL TIP THAT
WORKS FOR EVERYTHING
In most cases, TA is something that you have to do, and

you don’t get to choose for which course or professor.
Accept it and make it the best possible experience.

You have everything to gain.
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
AJ Richards
Possible TA Duties
¨ Oversee recitations and/or labs
¨ Grade quizzes and/or exams
¨ Design quizzes
¨ Hold office hours
¨ Work with Learning Assistants
¨ Interact with course professor
¤ Possibly
giving him feedback from your unique
perspective
First Steps
¨ Meet with your course professor!
¤ Special instructions?
¤ She’s your boss!
¨ Make sure you read and understand the course

website
¤ Especially the syllabus
¨ Read the first week’s activity
¤ And textbook, if necessary
Your First Day
¨ Remember, this is YOUR classroom
¤ Establish
your personal style from the beginning
¤ Make your expectations clear
n Behavior
n Attitude
¨ Take attendance
¤ Opportunity to learn names!
Most Importantly…
¨ Have some fun!
¤ Youcan be miserable and bored for 3 hours a week, or
you can enjoy that time and feel fulfilled
Questions and Concerns?

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Tips and Tricks

2008: Graduate-level series of lectures, cosmology

2008-2011: Prison Teaching (lecturing, grading

2009-2010: Substitute Lecturer @ Rutgers (non-majors)

2011: Lecturer @ Rutgers (full course, non-majors)

What are your duties

Just to get Personal/professional

If you do it, no matter the reason, do it as well as you can.

1. Self - respect. Why be bored and frustrated

2. You never know what could be useful. A random

Objective: minimize time spent on task while keeping

Preparation time: Classroom time:

Do know what you will be Be nice and patient.

Do spend 1/2 hour thinking Don’t be complacent.

Preparation time: Classroom time:

Focus on your goal

Have more fun!

Of course, teach. But there are many different

Use lectures to improve your ability to speak in public

Become more detail-oriented

Favor the growth of the class as a whole

Encourage especially the shyest students

Help the most brilliant students achieve their full potential

Read the material well in advance. A bit every day is a lot

Don’t be afraid to ask questions to the lecturer or to suggest

What is most difficult

Being prepared is the #1 way. If you know you did your

Don’t listen too much to what others say about being

Know that it gets easier and easier.

Just be there and give them your full attention.

If you realize you gave a wrong answer, or could have given

Practice thinking as if you didn’t know any advanced math

Think of what you would like if you were in their place.

Read something about the

Read something about the

TA Seminar: Creative Teaching in the STEM disciplines

Great ideas: practical things I had not thought of

For me: a new (hopefully better) approach to final review

Fix it. Or at least, try.

If you don’t, it will generate

Get feedback. Ask the students to fill in a brief

Look at criticism as something that will make you better. Nobody is

Ask your mentor (a faculty member or a postdoc, possibly; if not,

2. If the course is taking far too much of your time:

Go back to your list of goals and re-organize your

What went wrong?

Consider making your work more “visible”.

Strategy # 1: Use social media for your class

Strategy # 2: Make a website for your class

In most cases, TA is something that you have to do, and

Accept it and make it the best possible experience.

¨ Make sure you read and understand the course

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