Questions to Ask Your TA Supervisor

When you meet with your supervisor (e.g., course instructor, lab coordinator, course coordinator) at the beginning of the semester, consider asking them some of the questions below to help ensure you’re ready for the first day.

1. What are the terms of my teaching assistant position? What are my duties and how much time should I spend on each (e.g., facilitating seminars, lab demonstrations, review sessions, office hours, field trip supervision, lecturing, grading, exam invigilation, answering student e-mails)?

• If you are teaching labs, ask about equipment, emergency and safety procedures, and preparation/clean up

2. What technology or audiovisual equipment do I need to know how to use?

3. Do I have access to the CourseLink site for the course and what will I be using it for (e.g., inputting grades, monitoring discussion boards, marking assignments, posting recorded videos)?

4. If my duties include meetings, what should I come prepared to discuss?

5. Are there other TAs involved with this course? How will we ensure consistency of information taught and consistency of grading for students? Will we meet as a group?

6. How much of my teaching involves reinforcing lecture material and how much involves introducing new material and concepts?

7. How much autonomy will I have to present new ideas, use different teaching methods, or present perspectives different from the instructor’s? How much supervision will I have?

8. What can you tell me about the course (e.g., course syllabus, learning outcomes, demographics, history, learning activities and my place in their design, implementation, or assessment)?

9. What are the course policies with regard to late assignments, missed classes, plagiarism, cheating, and re-grades? Are there other policies I should be aware of?

10. If I am unable to attend a class/lab/tutorial, what should I do and/or who should I contact?

Now it’s your turn! Check out the complementary activities where you can plan out the questions you want to ask your TA supervisor so you are prepared for your first meeting.

Adapted From:

• Teaching Assistant Checklist: Questions to Ask. Centre for Teaching Excellence, University of Waterloo.