FACULTY RESEARCH PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS CURRENT STUDENTS POST DOCTORAL COURSES CURRENT STUDENTS Introduction Ph.D. Program Graduate Student Handbook Ph.D. Requirements TA Manual Pre-research Seminars Department Rescources Columbia Resources Student Directory Incoming Class Previous Classes M.A. in Biotechnology Introduction Student Handbook Seminars Useful Websites Undergraduate Program Welcome TA Manual - Introduction TA Manual Introduction What does a TA do in recitation or lab section? What Works and What Doesn't How to Avoid Passivity Preparation Famous Difficulties & Misunderstandings How to Start Class Problem Solving Problems with Numbers Using the Blackboard Explaining A Guide For Teaching Assistants in the Biological Sciences at Columbia University By: Deborah Mowshowitz Department of Biological Sciences Columbia University E-mail: [email protected] NOTE: Duplication and/or transmission of any portion should be guided by "fair use" principles. Explicit permission from the author should be obtained when using this document for a purpose other than individual usage. This manual is a collection of advice, tips, and miscellaneous useful information for teaching assistants. Most of the information was contributed by members of the Columbia Biological Sciences Department. Some of it is from graduate students who served as teaching assistants and some of it is from professors who depended on teaching assistants to help with their courses. Most of this advice was obtained in response to the questions, "What would you tell a new TA?" and "What should a TA know?" The material has been organized by topic so you can look up advice on whatever subject concerns you. Some ideas are repeated in slightly different form under different topics and some cross references are included. I want to thank all those who contributed ideas to this manual and I welcome additions, corrections and comments. You can contact me by e-mail. HOME DIRECTORIES NEWS & EVENTS RESOURCES EMPLOYMENT CONTACT US