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.
If you are taking TA training this Fall (this includes everyone who has not taken this course yet and who will be teaching in some quarter this year), Sign up for CS 495 (Course# 587-770-201). This class is 2 units. All the new TAs will meet twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday from 12 to 2pm in Physics & Astronomy Bldg. 2760) and Prof. Richard Korf will go over issues in teaching Computer Science. If you are TA'ing a course in any quarter, Sign up for CS 375 (Course# 587-620-2xx). This is a variable unit course, 1-4 units. Usually, people choose 4 units. There are no meetings for this class. The Course# depends on the professor you are TAing for. Thus we have 3 options: 1) Old TA who has taken CS 495 before, teaching in Fall: 4 units of 375 2) New or Old TA who has not taken CS 495 (4 units of 375) + (2 units of 495) 3) New or Old TA who has not taken CS 495, not teaching in Fall 2007: 2 units of 495
You can check your study list or even enroll on-line.
You should receive all TA notices by e-mail. Look in /u/class/ta/dist-ta.list. If your login name is not in this file, send mail to the current TAC.
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.
As far as filling out paperwork, picking-up paychecks or arranging for your paychecks to be direct deposited into a checking acct. You will want to talk to Valerie Woodson (woodson@cs). She handles all payroll matters for TA's. It is not a bad idea to check in with her occasionally to make sure everything is in order. Before the quarter begins, you will need to see Valerie in order to sign your TA contract. If you are TAing during a given quarter, you should receive email from her inviting you to her office to sign these documents.
To see what old TAs did or had access to; first try looking online. In the TA list for the current quarter, there are links to previous quarter lists and materials, and you will be able to find out who the old ta was and what his/her e-mail address is. Second, try looking in the TA archive, for which you will need to contact the TAC and make an appt to get access to this material. The TA archive was started Spring '96, in an effort to give new TAs the experience of old TAs. Addendum by TAC: Contact me to get this information, it is stored in a file cabinet and I can loan out the files when requested.
This website has the past TAs with their email addresses. If you have questions about the class, they are a great resource.
These are held only for courses. Your interaction with the students will mainly be during the Discussion sections, usually during Fridays. You might be in charge of more than one section. This time is used to go over the material that was covered during lectures by the professor - new material is not introduced unless the professor asks you to do so. Presenting examples and solving problems are a good way to review the material. Students are encouraged to ask questions. Depending on your class, you may also have to: Give quizzes, collect homeworks, give back graded homeworks and quizzes, discuss homework/quiz solutions, go over programming exercises.
Usually, you start out by going over the work that has to be done during that day. You will also have to go over any theory that they might require. You then move around helping the students do their experiments.
These are given by the professor. It is up to you and the professor to decide if you need to attend them.
You are expected to hold two office hours per week. Preferably, hold them on different days and times so that all students can make it to at least one of them. Also, try to schedule office hours to span standard class times. In other words, an office hour from 9:30-10:30, 11:30-12:30, 1:30-2:30, or 3:30-4:30 will allow a lot more students to be able to attend. You can ask your students for suitable times before fixing your office hours. Extra office hours may be held during examination weeks. Post your regular office hours in the file /u/class/ta/ugrad.html
Office hours are usually held in Boelter 4428.
Talk with the professor to find out about homeworks and quizzes (how many, when will they be given, who will prepare the questions/solutions, grading scheme ...) If you handle over 45 students ask your professor if you can get a "grader" (usually an undergraduate who has taken the course previously and who will grade the homeworks for you; you will still be responsible for collecting and giving back the homeworks). Make sure that you return graded material in time.
You can collect homeworks in class or ask them to drop it off in one of the drop-boxes in Boelter 4428. Pick an empty one, label the box clearly, and contact the TAC for a combination lock.
The department should have ordered a textbook for your use during the quarter. Contact Brenda Ramirez in suite 4732, and she can order a textbook for you if she doesn't have it already.
Material/Building services has laptops (with Windows 98 and Powerpoint) and laptop projectors. Fill up their "Audio and Visual Services Request" form at www.matserv.ucla.edu. Don't fill in the recharge ID. Do give your course number and professor's name. They should then confirm your order. You can pick up the equipment from their office in Boelter 2685 (entrance from the outside corridor).
Class materials are stored in /u/class/yyyy/csXXX. The web address is http://www.cs.ucla.edu/classes/yyyy/. Where yyyy is the term, fall98, winter97, etc.
If you can't create your files, check to see if you are in the "ta" group with "ypmatch ta group." If your login name is not on this list, send mail to the current TAC.
As of 2004, you may wish to store your course materials on the CourseWeb site. Only in special cases will you want to use the /u/class/yyyy subdirectories. For such cases you can discuss this with the course instructor and/or the current TAC.
Each TA is allowed to use the photocopiers on the 3rd floor (BH 3507) for making class-related photocopies. You will need a code in order to access these machines. To obtain a code, see Rachelle Reamkitkarn (in BH 4532N) or Nancy Neymark (in BH 3531K).
A TA should not pay for any supplies necesary for teaching a class. Things like paper, folders, staplers, transparencies, dry-erase markers/erasers, etc. may be obtained. Contact Rachelle Reamkitkarn (in BH 4532N) or Nancy Neymark (in BH 3531K).
APS stands for Academic Publishing Service, which is the on campus service for a professor or TA to produce some type of manual, or supplemental for their class. APS is located in the ASUCLA Copy store on the 3rd floor of Ackerman union. However, APS takes 3-4 weeks to produce anything. On the otherhand, you can go to Copymat located in Westwood on Westwood Blvd, Across from the Bankof America, next to the Mrs. Fields. They will create your APS, and sell them to your students, and give you a free copy. The best part, is they will do this within 3-4 days, usually faster. So if you have a choice, go to Copymat and make your APS manuals there.
Class newsgroups are setup by SEASNET, the SEASNET office is located on the 2nd floor of Boelter Hall. You will need to go down to the SEASNET office in person and request a newsgroup for your class.
The department should have ordered a textbook for your use during the quarter. Contact Brenda Ramirez in suite 4732, and she can order a textbook for you if she doesn't have it already.
Before you can modify the webpage, the professor has to activate it. This is a simple matter of him/her logging into CourseWeb and activating it. After this has been done you should have admin rights to the webpage.
If you do not have admin rights, or have any other issues getting started, please email the TAC.
The webpages usually contain the following information:
Access to the directory is controlled using Access Control Lists (man getfacl and setfacl for more information). You should also belong to the ta group. You (and your professor) should already have permissions to change your directories; if not, please contact the TAC.
The webpages usually contain the following information:
You can change the format and look of the class webpages, but try not to change too much (the department is trying to standardize the webpages to get the undergraduate program accredited).
Office hours and student meetings are held in the Learning Lounge (4428 Boelter Hall). There are two sides to the room, each with a pair of white boards.
There are mailboxes available in the Learning Lounge. Contact the TAC to get a lock, assigned on a quarterly basis.
To enter you need a "swipe card". If you don't have a swipe card or you need to add TA access, contact Marty Revilla (mrevilla@cs) in BH 4732L. Ask for access to the Learning Lounge (4428).
_ 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
If your swipe key doesn't work for some reason, you will need to talk to Marty Revilla (mrevilla@cs) in BH 4732L. He will be able to assist you.
1. Edit /u/class/ta/faq.html.
Please add your name/e-mail address to the end of your comments.
2. Add your name to the document history at the end of faq.html.
3. Save a copy of faq.html in /u/class/ta/old_faqs; i.e. "faq-15.html".
Please "chmod 664 yourfile", so that other TAs can read your file.