1. Computer Science Teaching Assistant Orientation
Spring 2017

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

3. TA Supervisors Dr. Debby Keen, CS 101 Dr. Debby Keen, CS 115
Mr. Kevin Joiner, CS 215
Dr. Yi Pike, CS 216
Mr. Kevin Joiner, CS 221
Dr. Wasilkowski, CS 275

4. 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!
Tip for time management
Track how you use your time for a week or so
Evaluate how your time expenditures compare with your personal goals
Try to eliminate unnecessary time demands to increase the time you have for the things that really matter
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5. Changes this semester
CS 115 stays smaller, due to Common First Year Experience course
CS 215 gets bigger – CS enrollment is increasing nationwide, lots of students from CFYE
CS 215 has a new lecturer, Mr. Joiner

6. Is your Student your SO? This should not need to be said, but...
If you are teaching a section or a class and discover that you have a friend / relative / significant other enrolled in the class,
Notify your supervisor at once
If possible, rearrange the situation so this is NOT the case!
It is impossible to be objective and professional in this situation.

7. Be Prepared! If you work in a lab environment,
You should have looked at the assignment ahead of time and solved it on your own.
Don’t assume that “this stuff is trivial and I can solve it at a glance if someone asks”.
Know what the instructor had in mind as the solution, and know the REASON for the exercise – if you can’t figure it out, ask the instructor! Before class starts!

8. Class / Section assignments
Rules for changing assignments are online
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
Both people sign the request
MUST be done before first day class meets

9. 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!

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

11. Parking and being on time!
As you will find out, parking on campus this semester is going to be harder than ever.
Please allow for this when you are going to meet your classes.
It may mean leaving home much earlier or catching an earlier bus. Remember LexTran buses are free with student ID.
It’s much more comfortable for you and for your students if you don’t have to rush into the room exactly at the time to start class!

12. I-9 forms for Payroll 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

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

14. Mark your calendars now!
Last day of the semester – Monday May 8, AFTER Finals Week!
We hope we’re finished sooner than that, but don’t make plans to leave town until after 5/8/2017
Start of next Semester
August 11, 2017 Wednesday is the first day of class
August 9, 2017 Monday will be CS TA orientation

15. If you have to miss… If you know that you are going to miss a
TA meeting
Class meeting
Office hours
Exam proctoring
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!

16. Food / Drink policies Please ask students not to eat in the labs.
Keep liquids below desk level and in their packs unless they are actually drinking from it
Don’t have bottles, even capped, sitting next to a keyboard!

17. Community 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!

18. Pay attention to the poor performer!
Care about the students and show them that you care!
Document how you are communicating with them
Try to get names of people who come to office hours
Keep all s and written communications
Checking on people who miss classes, miss assignment deadlines
Give them a short note to ask what is wrong

19. Grading 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 a rubric, take it up with your supervisor
Our goal is to keep the grading consistent across all sections

20. Academic Alert!!
UK 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

21. YOUR OFFICE HOURS BE there!
They will be in EE Annex building, Room 205, 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

22. A Mis-Communication case study
From a 101 student:
I did talk to <my TA> in person after labs, for assistance about how to get some software, to explain something after a lab about Alice, and I did ask him about how to find my grades. I still never got the URL.  I only ed you when I got no response from him.  I was respectful to <my TA>, but I could not understand him, so I got frustrated, and I realize I could have handled it a lot better.   
From the 101 TA:
Although she had went to some open Labs, she was just sitting there playing. Never ed me or asked me anything about......

23. Student Retention What is retention? Why do we care?
Video on Student Retention

24. What’s next?
101 TA meeting Tuesday 1 pm – Marksbury small conference room 202
115 TA meeting Tuesday 2 pm – Marksbury small conference room 202
221 TA meeting – done already
215 TA meeting – will be announced at end of this meeting
TAs assigned to other classes – contact your supervisors for instructions

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