Going to teach a class next semester

Serendipity

So - today I find out that I am going to be a TA for an Intro to Circuit Analysis course for Freshman students my next semester. Many courses at my school are taught by the Professor but the recitation and laboratory sessions are taught by the TA so I'll have to come in twice a week for labs and review material.

As for the teaching experience, it's something I will need later as I'm interested in going to grad school for either Engineering Management or Electrical Engineering so it is something that I will have to do as a grad student anyways.

Have any college students here done anything like this before?

disneyjoe7

You either going to Love it, or hate it. Teachers are born in my mind

98Badger

Many of the larger universities operate this way. I always found I learned more from the TA's than the professors anyway (at least in my calc and physics courses). Never had to do it myself though. Got my B.S. in Physics and got out.

wz2p7j

Just remember,

voltage divides in series,

current divides in parallel :cool::cool:

Chris

Serendipity

98Badger wrote: »

Many of the larger universities operate this way. I always found I learned more from the TA's than the professors anyway (at least in my calc and physics courses). Never had to do it myself though. Got my B.S. in Physics and got out.

I basically need 3 credits of undergraduate teaching for grad school, and yes most of the courses at my university are taught this way. Some of the calc courses are taught 100% by grad students.

ryanjoachim

I work at a middle school right now, and even though i'm only a classified employee (as opposed to licensed teachers), I still find myself answering questions and teaching kids about random things.

It's a bit harrowing with kids these age though, as they're all about "rebelling" and such...gonna make me go bald before i'm 30!

cnh

Relax and enjoy it,

I'm not in your field, but truth be told I'm a Professor. I had my first teaching experience at the University as a Grad student years ago. Develop a good rapport with your students...be confident, but most of all be 'yourself' that works best.

And remember that most Ph.D.s haven't had even ONE course that taught them 'how' to teach! So learn as much as you can. And enjoy yourself!

cnh

Serendipity

Thanks! I hope that I will enjoy it!

markmarc

As a teacher of 16 years, here are a few tips I learned early on:
Have a check list of items to cover during class on the board.
Use real examples whenever possible. I'm betting classic failed designs will be popular.
Vary your voice.
Break up the lecture by having students discuss a problem, and or potential solutions for a minute or two with those sitting next to them.

Serendipity

Interesting. Engineering failures that come to my mind:

Mars Orbiter - confusion between metric and imperial units = explosion
Also Chernobyl, Tacoma Narrows Bridge, etc.

Then various failures I've had in lab like circuits going on fire, blown capacitors, resistors going up in smoke, too many to list. Happens to everyone

disneyjoe7

Interesting I built a product which looks at a 4DTV C-Band receiver to a DVR TiVo, ReplayTV and other DVR's. I never had a product return to me as they never died, this product is on 24hrs / 365 days it never dies.

ryanjoachim

Also, don't be too "buddy-buddy" with your students. It's great to develop a bond with them, but be too "buddy" and some will start ignoring what you say/tell them.

Or is that only pre-pubescent middle schoolers?

steveinaz

Sounds like an outstanding opportunity, go into it with a positive attitude. Congrats!

Serendipity

steveinaz wrote: »

Sounds like an outstanding opportunity, go into it with a positive attitude. Congrats!

Thanks!

I'm definitely interested in doing this because when you teach material it helps you learn too. Plus I love to tinker around with circuits and things like that.

unc2701

This probably isn't a problem in engineering, but I TA'd an intro stats class that was a requirement for the nursing school.

Yeah, universities have a bunch of rules that really suck.

janmike

Great experience and a few extra bucks. Was a TA in numerous subjects during my University years. Enjoy.

Serendipity

unc2701 wrote: »

This probably isn't a problem in engineering, but I TA'd an intro stats class that was a requirement for the nursing school.

Yeah, universities have a bunch of rules that really suck.

I don't even think I've ever taken an intro to stats class - all my Math classes were either Calc I to IV, Random Signals, Systems, Probability, and Linear Algebra.

janmike wrote: »

Great experience and a few extra bucks. Was a TA in numerous subjects during my University years. Enjoy.

Looking forward to it. Which subjects did you teach?

janmike

Serendipity wrote: »

I don't even think I've ever taken an intro to stats class - all my Math classes were either Calc I to IV, Random Signals, Systems, Probability, and Linear Algebra.



Looking forward to it. Which subjects did you teach?

Statistics, Database programing, Business Mathematics, Accounting. Also tutored a few things. The $ sure helped and it was fun - even failing a few. :cool:

Serendipity

DSkip wrote: »

UNT now requires three upper level courses in Statistics/Probability to get a Math degree. However, you only need to go up to Calculus 2. Linear Algebra is a breeze, wish every class was that easy, especially Calculus 3 :eek:

Calculus 3 was a breeze....at least compared to Physics E&M and any other upper-level Physics course :eek:

janmike wrote: »

Statistics, Database programing, Business Mathematics, Accounting. Also tutored a few things. The $ sure helped and it was fun - even failing a few. :cool:

Glad to hear that it was fun and it looks like I will have to tutor / do review sessions too.

hearingimpared

I was an assistant instructor in the tech school I attended and it was well worth the experience as (amoung all my other duties) I became and instructor with the various companies I worked for throughout my career. It looks great on a resume too.