Useful Information for the Computer Science Department's Awesome TAs

Current Lead TA

2024–2025 Lead TA:

Yeganeh Aghamohammadi
Office hours: Mondays, 2pm–3pm, Henley Hall 2121.
- Note: Office hours cancellations are rare and will be announced over here.
Available for TA consultation by appointment.

TA Resources

UCSB Instructional Development Resources

Academic Student Employee Union

UAW 2865

Teaching Philosophy Resources

CS 501

The purpose of CS 501 is to prepare the Computer Science Department TAs for teaching in the classroom environment. TAs are not expected to have any prior teaching experience thus this course will help them achieve confidence in the classroom, grade equitably and efficiently, teach to various learning styles and establish their personal teaching philosophies. The course is given to both students who will concurrently be TAing in the fall quarter and those who hope to, or expect to TA in future quarters. In addition some TAs will only be responsible for grading, some only for leading discussion sections, and others only for running labs. Therefore, the content of the course encompasses each of these areas. Due to the fact that some students of CS 501 will be concurrently TAing, more important topics are covered toward the beginning of the course.

Your participation will drive this seminar! Your questions, concerns and experiences will shape the topics and value of the course, so be involved!

Requirements

Attendance:
- Miss no more than one class.
Teaching Demo:
- If you are not TA’ing, prepare for your micro-teaching demo.
- In-class, week 9 (Nov 26).
- 7–10 minutes.
- Logistically, don’t plan on using the projector. Depending on your topic, you can use part of the board in this room, or you can print handouts for observers to follow along. Get creative!
TA Observation (Due Nov. 22):
- Due at the end of week 8 (Nov. 22). Everyone should submit. Refer to the course description on Canvas for more information.
- Attend at least one other TA’s section and give constructive feedback by filling out the TA observation form. Email the TA (and cc the Lead TA) with the completed observation form.
- Steps to sign up:
  1. If you are a TA this quarter, enter your discussion section info on the TA observation spreadsheet. Upload a one page PDF to Canvas and indicate you are a TA this quarter.
  2. If you are not a TA this quarter, check the TA observation spreadsheet, and find a time and section that works for your schedule.
  3. Email that TA to let them know you’re planning on going to their section and which week. This step is to give the TA notice that someone will be coming to their section.
  4. Then, on the Observer tab of the spreadsheet, add your name.
Teaching Philosophy Statement (Due Nov. 29):
- Due at the end of week 9 (Nov. 29). Everyone should submit. Refer to the course description on Canvas for more information.
- Upload your statements on Canvas.
- A brief reflective essay (1–2 pages) of your understanding about:
  - How students learn;
  - How instruction can best assist that learning;
  - Actions that you (will) take to enact such instruction.
- See resources linked on this page for advice and examples.

Schedule

Week 0

TA and Reader orientation.

Slides

Week 1

Went over course structure and logistics. We discussed the Planning, Implementing, and Evaluating technique from the UCSB TA Handbook. We also demonstrated this technique with an in-class teaching example.

Slides

Week 2

We started by discussing implicit bias in teaching. We then discussed how to help students in need, and ended with an in-class activity for preventing and detecting cheating in CS courses.

Slides