CS TA Orientation Fall 2015

Introductions Faculty Dr. Brent Seales, Department Chair Dr. Mirek Truszczynski, Director Graduate Studies Dr. Jurek Jaromczyk, Director Undergraduate Studies Staff Kathy Ice-Wedding, graduate records Dee Fuhs, payroll / finances Paul Linton, systems manager

TA Supervisors Dr. Debby Keen, CS 101 Dr. Debby Keen, CS 101 Dr. Debby Keen, CS 115 Dr. Debby Keen, CS 115 Dr. Yi Pike, CS 215 Dr. Yi Pike, CS 215 Dr. Yi Pike, CS 216 Dr. Yi Pike, CS 216 Mr. Paul Piwowarski, CS 221 Mr. Paul Piwowarski, CS 221 Dr., CS 275 Dr. Manivannan, CS 275

Try to keep your balance!  You have a teaching job, classes, research and a LIFE!  How do you balance it?  TALK to your supervisor AND your advisor if you are getting overloaded  Schedules can be adjusted with some notice!

 CS 115 will have a new textbook (not free)  Working on automating some grading  No CodeLab Changes this semester

Class / Section assignments Rules for changing assignments are online Rules for changing assignments are online Tell your supervisor what you want to change TO, not just what you want to change FROM Tell your supervisor what you want to change TO, not just what you want to change FROM Write down what sections are changing and who else is involved Write down what sections are changing and who else is involved Both people sign the request Both people sign the request MUST be done before first day class meets MUST be done before first day class meets

Observations / Evaluations  Every TA is observed by a faculty member every semester (usually their supervisor)  Every TA is evaluated by their supervisor at the end of every semester  The TA gets a copy of each form and a chance to respond to it  Copies are kept by TA, Dr. Keen, DGS and Graduate School  PLEASE help us by making sure your form is filled out and signed by the end of the semester!

Peer Observations Done in 115, 101 Done in 115, 101 Experienced TA paired with new TA Experienced TA paired with new TA New TA observes experienced TA before their first class/lab New TA observes experienced TA before their first class/lab Later in the semester experienced TA observes new TA Later in the semester experienced TA observes new TA After each observation, TAs meet to give feedback After each observation, TAs meet to give feedback Communicate to your supervisor that the observations were done Communicate to your supervisor that the observations were done

Useful Information TA page PLEASE do not give this URL to anyone!! PLEASE do not give this URL to anyone!!

More Useful Information  TA mailboxes are in  Dr. Keen’s cell phone number is  All TAs should KEEP ALL s sent to them by students and all s sent to students, at least until final grades are done  Make sure your University account is set up and that your supervisor has an address for you

 If you are a new TA or  if you have been off the payroll (even a few days!)  See Dee Fuhs, Marksbury 102D, as soon as possible to get on payroll!! They need a new I-9 form I-9 forms for Payroll

Your Class Schedule  If you are a returning student, you should have already registered for classes – if not, then do it NOW!  If you are registered, please do not make changes unless absolutely necessary  If you make a change or have made one in the last few days, TELL Dr. Keen NOW!

 Mark your calendars now!  Last day of the semester – Monday December 21 AFTER Finals Week!  We hope we’re finished sooner than that, but don’t make plans until after 12/21/15  Start of next Spring Semester  January 13, 2016 Wednesday is the first day of class  January 8, 2015 Friday will be CS TA orientation Last Day of the Semester

If you have to miss… If you know that you are going to miss a If you know that you are going to miss a TA meeting TA meeting Class meeting Class meeting Office hours Office hours Exam proctoring Exam proctoring Exam grading Exam grading Let your supervisor KNOW about it! Even if you have it covered, they need to know! In advance if possible but even after the fact! Let your supervisor KNOW about it! Even if you have it covered, they need to know! In advance if possible but even after the fact!

 PLEASE enforce in the labs!  Keep everything below desk level and in their packs unless they are actually using it  Don’t have bottles, even capped, sitting next to a keyboard! Food / Drink policies

 Enrollments are up in several classes  19 sections of 115, 300 day, 67 night  8 sections of 215, 2 seats left  10 sections of 221, 17 seats left Busy this semester!

 TA common goal: the students’ learning  The TAs who work in the same class should be a community – “we know more together than we do individually”  Experienced TAs, please reach out to the new TAs – tips for grading, for dealing with students, anything can be useful when you’re new to the job! Community

Caring about the students and SHOWING them that you care! Documenting how you are communicating with them Try to get names of people who come to office hours People who miss classes, miss assignment deadlines Give them a short note to ask what is wrong Pay attention to the poor performer!

 Biggest part in terms of time taken  Very important part! Feedback is where learning happens!  Rubrics should be provided by supervisor  If not, make your own and show to supervisor  Follow them as closely as possible  If you disagree with one, take it up with your supervisor  Keep the grading consistent across all sections Grading

 Program to alert students and advisors to 'risky' behavior of students  Missed Classes (at least 2-3 in the first weeks)  Habitually Late (more than 10 minutes on a regular basis)  Homework assignments not completed or of inconsistent quality  Poor performance on tests or quizzes  Disruptive Behavior in class  Other Academic Alert!!

Academic Alerts  101 and 115 will do this this semester  The alerts are sent through the IRIS system - it automatically mails the student!  I ask the student to see their TA and to see me  Give them your personal attention!  In classes besides 101 and 115, ask your supervisor

YOUR OFFICE HOURS YOUR Office Hours - BE there! They will be in RGAN 102 lab or, scheduled in the next week or two by Dr. Keen Students can show up at any time, Not just the start of the hour Try to help every student who asks, even if they are not in your section or even your class Even if more than one TA is scheduled for a time, it is your job to be there

What is a Growth Mindset? (see separate set of slides)

What’s next? 101 TA meeting Tuesday 1 pm – Marksbury small conference room, second floor 101 TA meeting Tuesday 1 pm – Marksbury small conference room, second floor 115 TA meeting Tuesday 10 am – Marksbury large conference room, first floor 115 TA meeting Tuesday 10 am – Marksbury large conference room, first floor 221 TA meeting 221 TA meeting 215/216 TA meeting – will be announced at end of this meeting 215/216 TA meeting – will be announced at end of this meeting TAs assigned to other classes – contact your supervisors for instructions TAs assigned to other classes – contact your supervisors for instructions

Supplies – pens, folders, textbooks Name tags – wear them first day Night TAs – laptops, syllabus Ending Activities

 If you have time, the Kentucky State Fair is still going on until Sunday  In Louisville  $10 per person admission  See ALL of Kentucky in one place! Relax!