1. Eight Rules to Excel as a Bad TA (Eight Minutes to Teach Them) Murali Annavaram Asst. Professor University of Southern California (Presented at the USC EE TA Workshop) Inspired by what I learnt from Yale Patt

2. Rule# 1: Get to Class Straight From Bed Preparation is for the “weak hearted” Good enough to be a lecture ahead of the class If the student can not understand you first time they never will –No need to think of alternative methods World is static –Done this many times so change nothing

3. Rule# 2: TA Only Because I am Not an RA You believe that the phrase “Teaching Excitement” is an Oxymoron Show no enthusiasm for the class Enter the class with infectious look of boredom –Class time is nap time for students

4. Rule# 3: Students are Worker Bees They know nothing –You are the only brainiac Ignore what they have to say –No need to give credit for their ideas Respect is reserved only for faculty (maybe?) –Why do students need respect?

5. Rule# 4: Students Love Easy Classes Recycle homework and exams The easier the homework the better your semester end evaluation –You look better, student grades look better and you both win!! Who cares what they really learn?

6. Rule# 5: Discussions Play Second Fiddle No need to meet with instructor –It is a waste of time and instructor is too busy anyway Rehash the lecture material again in the lab or discussion sections

7. Rule# 6: Cover All Your Slides Your goal is to flip every slide in the class –After all you spent so much time preparing for the class Students learn more if they see more slides Cover every lab exercise even if that meant rushing through each exercise

8. Rule# 7: Zero Tolerance for Digressions Don’t digress from what is written on your slides –Students questions outside of lecture material get a letter grade reduction Your office hours are only to answer questions related to lab exercise (or homework)

9. Rule# 8: You are Never Wrong Never accept that you are wrong Your dictionary has no place for “I don’t know” When student asks a question tell him something or “anything” –Never go back to your desk to think about an answer