TA Assistantships
NEW postings:
TA positions for the winter 2023 term: https://taships.iit.artsci.utoronto.ca/ess/postings
Application deadline: December 6, 2022
Application website: https://taships.iit.artsci.utoronto.ca/ess
1. Department Standards and Policies are available in the Department office and in the CUPE, Local 3902 office.
2. The position(s) posted above is (are) tentative, pending final course determinations and enrolments.
Jobs will be posted in accordance with the CUPE 3902 Unit 1 Collective Agreement.
Although a graduate student’s preference as to the campus location of his/her TA appointment will be taken into account, both the initial TA appointment (or CI appointment) and the subsequent appointment obligation related to that appointment may be met through position(s) on any one of the three University of Toronto campuses (UTM, UTSC or St. George) in courses in the same discipline as the initial appointment. TAs will only be assigned to courses in fields in which they are or should be qualified to assist.
Helpful Hints for Teaching Assistantships in Earth Sciences
The passing of knowledge is an essential part of the progression of science. TAships allow you to develop your teaching skills and your knowledge base. Teaching can be as rewarding as it is intimidating; to ease the stress and help broaden your skills.
Once you have a TA position:
1) Meet with the professor teaching the course:
Once before the course starts in order to define your responsibilities for the course. Dividing the work for large courses with multiple TAs is essential.
Once around the midterm to get all TAs on the same page and to get hints to improve the course and to make sure you will not go over your contract hours.
Once at the end of the course to get feedback from students and professor on how you can improve and to allow suggestions on how the course/TAship can be improved.
2) Keep track of hours worked; Don’t work for free! Think ahead so you don’t go over.
3) Ask for a textbook (Professors can get review copies free. Make sure you have one to borrow at least.)
4) Ask for feedback at the end of semester on how to improve.
If there is a conflict of interest or problem:
5) If you don’t feel comfortable with TAing, ask your professor if you can sit in on the course lecture. This may help you learn how to teach, present material and interact with students and connect the topics/content you are presenting in the lab sessions.
6) If you TA for your supervisor and you are being asked to work beyond your TA contract obligations then talk to fellow TAs, the Undergraduate Chair, the Graduate Chair or the Dept. Chair to help you resolve the problem with the least conflict possible.
When Marking or Grading:
7) Talk to the professor about grading expectations.
8) Follow a rubric or marking guide. Ask the professor or previous TAs for their assignment rubrics.
13) Be consistent! Make sure you mark all material equally.
14) When giving feedback focus on a few main points that are helpful to the student in each exercise.Try to give constructive criticism (do not just identify faults).
For more Questions about:
a) Course content – ask the professor.
b) Teaching methods (pedagogy) – look into the Teaching Assistant Training Program (TATP)
c) Language and writing assistance – English Language and Writing Support (ELWS)
d) General info on any issues – other grad students – they’ve been in your position before!
People To Know:
Undergraduate Chair / TA Coordinator – Bridget Bergquist Rm 3109 undergradchair@es.utoronto.ca
Graduate Chair – Maria Dittrich UTSC gradchair@es.utoronto.ca
Dept. Chair – Sarah Finkelstein Main Office chair@es.utoronto.ca
Graduate / Undergrad Administrator – Scott Moore Main Office grads@es.utoronto.ca
Digital Media (AV equipment) – Karyn Gorra kgorra@es.utoronto.ca
Writing Services at U of T www.writing.utoronto.ca
Association of Graduate Earth Science Students (AGESS) President Bobby Chen bobbychen.chen@mail.utoronto.ca