UCLA Computer Science TA FAQ

This document answers some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Teaching Assistants (TAs) in the UCLA Computer Science Department.

Feel free to add, correct, or organize the information in this document, and share YOUR experience. If you are a TA, you should have write permission to this file: /u/class/ta/faq.html

On the Web this document is http://www.cs.ucla.edu/classes/ta/faq.html.

QUESTIONS

Getting Started: What courses do I put on my study list?; How do I receive TA notices?
Accessing TA Materials: Where do I store on-line class materials?
Locations: Where is the TA Office?; Where do I meet students?; How can I get in these rooms?
Contributing to this FAQ: How can I contribute to this FAQ?

ANSWERS

Getting Started

What courses do I put on my study list?

If you are taking TA training this Fall (this includes everyone who has
not taken this course yet),

  Sign up for CS 495 (Course# 587-770-200).
  This class is 2 units.

If you are TA'ing a course this Fall,

  Sign up for CS 375 (Course# 587-620-200).
  This is a variable unit course, 1-4 units.  Usually, people choose 4 units.

Thus we have 3 options:

  1) Old TA who has taken CS 495 before, teaching in Fall 1996:  
       4 units 375
  2) New or Old TA who has not taken CS 495, teaching in Fall 1996:
       4 units 375, 2 units 495
  3) New or Old TA who has not taken CS495, not teaching in Fall 1996:
       2 units 495

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Excerpt from Fall 96's enrollment schedule:

http://www.ucla.edu/student/classes/fall1996/ComputerScience.html

   375 TCHNG APRNTC PRCTCM    587-620-200  TUT 1   UNSCHED              
                              MUNTZ, R.R.          1.0-4.0 units  (SU)
       5 enrolled (max 25)    0 on wait list (max 5)
       Exam code: 30 (CONSULT INSTRUCTOR FOR METHOD OF EVALUATION)
       Restriction: COMPUTER SCI,EL ENGR GRADS

   495 TA TRAINING SEMINAR    587-770-200  SEM 1   UNSCHED              
                              RENNELS, D.A.        2.0 units  (SU)
       2 enrolled (max 25)    0 on wait list (max 5)
       Exam code: 30 (CONSULT INSTRUCTOR FOR METHOD OF EVALUATION)
       Restriction: COMPUTER SCI,EL ENGR GRADS

tsai@cs, 09/19/96

How do I receive TA notices?

You should receive all TA notices by e-mail. Try "ypmatch dist-ta aliases". If your login name is not on this list, send mail to tsai@cs.

All TA notices are also posted to the "ta" newsgroup. (In case you can't access your mail because of a computer crash.) Old "ta" newsgroup messages are archived at http://www.cs.ucla.edu/r_share1/news/www/.

tsai@cs, 09/18/96, 09/19/96

Accessing TA Materials

Locations

Where is the TA Office?

The TA Office is 3563 Boelter Hall, the northwest corner. The phone number is 206-4102. It is only a campus phone.

tsai@cs, 09/18/96

Where do I meet students?

Office hours and student meetings are held in the Learning Lounge (3256-S Boelter Hall), just North (left) of the CS GSWSR. The phone number is 825-2440. So that TAs can study in a quiet office, do NOT meet with students in the TA Office.

tsai@cs, 09/18/96

How can I get in these rooms?

To enter you need a "swipe card". If you don't have a swipe card or you need to add TA access, contact Natalie Rosentzwieg (natalie@cs) in BH4732. Ask for access to the TA Office (3563) and the Learning Lounge (3256-S).

 _ a green light: ok, welcome ! 
 _ a red light  : card read but your database entry says "access not allowed"
 _ both lights  : couldn't read, try again

tsai@cs, 09/18/96

Contributing to this FAQ

How can I contribute to this FAQ?

...working on this.
1.  Edit /r/share1/faq/faq.html.
2.  Update /r/share1/faq/faq.txt. Netscape is handy for that: open
    file:/r/share1/faq/faq.html and run "Save As..." with "Text" format.

tsai@cs, 09/18/96