CS TA Orientation

1. CS TA Orientation Fall 2014 New Faces!

2. Introductions Faculty Dr. Brent Seales, Department Chair Dr. MirekTruszczynski, Director Graduate Studies Dr. JurekJaromczyk, Director Undergraduate Studies Staff Jennifer Doerge, graduate records Dee Fuhs, payroll / finances Paul Linton, systems manager help@cs.uky.edu

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

5. Changes this semester CS 115 will have 6 sections “flipped” TA office hours may be in Multilab as well as RGAN 102

6. 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

7. 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!

8. Grad School Workshops Every full-time TA goes to two during the semester Make SURE you sign attendance sheet Go to MORE if you like! They’re free!

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

10. Useful Information TA page www.cs.uky.edu/~keen/tas/tas.html PLEASE do not give this URL to anyone!!

11. More Useful Information TA mailboxes are in Dr. Keen’s cell phone number is 859 576 5949 All TAs should KEEP ALL emails sent to them by students and all emails sent to students, at least until final grades are done Make sure your University account is set up and that your supervisor has an email address for you

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! 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!

14. Last Day of the Semester • Mark your calendars now! • Last day of the semester – Monday December 22 – AFTER Finals Week! • We hope we’re finished sooner than that, but don’t make plans until after 12/22/14 • Start of next Spring Semester • January 14, 2015 Wednesday is the first day of class • January 9, 2015 Friday 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 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!

17. Busy this semester! • Enrollments are up in several classes • 18 sections of 115, 100% full • 8 sections of 215, 2 seats left • 10 sections of 221, 5 seats left

18. 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!

19. Pay attention to the poor performer! • 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

20. 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 one, take it up with your supervisor • Keep the grading consistent across all sections

21. Academic Alert!! • 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. How do you get your students to be responsible for their own learning? (see separate set of slides) (this is from 20-minute Mentor Commons, access code UKY253)

25. What’s next? 101 TA meeting Monday 1 pm – my office 115 TA meeting Monday 10 am – RGAN 103 221 TA meeting Friday 1pm – RGAN 102 215 TA meeting – FPAT 257 after orientation TAs assigned to other classes – contact your supervisors for instructions

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

27. Relax! 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!