This chapter outlines possible duties you may have in your role as a TA and considers the other members of the teaching team with whom you will likely be working in professional relationships.

Possible Duties

Tutorial Leader

Tutorial leaders regularly meet with a group of students, often on a weekly basis. The number of students will depend on the department and the nature of the activities to be conducted in tutorials. Tutorial leaders may attend lectures, read the assigned material,  prepare for tutorials by designing lesson plans, take attendance, lead student field trips, evaluate student participation, lead discussions, review course concepts in a mini-lecture or question and answer session, administer tutorial assignments (presentations, quizzes, etc.), respond to student correspondence, monitor and respond to discussions on Avenue to Learn (McMaster’s learning management system), hold office hours, grade assignments, tests, or exams, and meet with the course instructor to report on tutorial activities.

More information about leading tutorials is provided in Leading Labs and Tutorials.

Laboratory Supervisor

Lab supervisors attend and supervise student laboratory sessions. Lab supervisors may attend lectures, complete the pre-lab activities or reference material, grade laboratory assignments, review and enforce safety regulations, demonstrate laboratory techniques, respond to student correspondence, hold office hours, and meet with the course instructor to report on laboratory activities.

More information about leading labs is provided in Leading Labs and Tutorials.

Marking Assistant

Marking assistants, or “markers,” are principally responsible for grading. They may grade assignments, tests, and/or exams. Marking may be distributed throughout the term or may fall in clusters, depending on when assignments are due. Markers may develop a marking rubric, provide written and/or oral feedback, respond to student correspondence, hold office hours, attend lectures, give presentations on expectations for assignments, and meet with the course instructor to discuss the grades or the grading process.

More information about assessing student learning and providing effective feedback is provided in Assessing Student Learning and Providing Feedback.

Lead, Head, or senior TA

The duties of the lead teaching assistant will differ depending on the course and the instructor, as will the position title. Some instructors may ask that these TAs offer guidance to other TAs in the course section or hold workshops on particular topics . A lead TA may hold sessions for all students on a particular topic (e.g., writing essays or preparing a lab report) or hold additional office hours to meet with students. They might be required to mark assignments, attend lectures, or deliver a lecture. Lead TAs might assist the course instructor with administration for the course. A lead TA might also be responsible for managing and administering a course website, such as on McMaster’s Avenue to Learn platform. This might involve uploading grades, posting weekly discussion questions, monitoring and responding to discussions, or responding to student inquiries on behalf of the course instructor.

Because the duties of this position tend to vary a great deal, be sure to clarify with the course instructor what will be expected of you, and check in regularly to ensure that you are comfortable completing the duties you have been assigned.

Other Duties Not Specified

The positions and duties specified above may be included in your Hours of Work form, but other duties, not specified here, may also be included. If you have any questions or concerns about the duties you are being asked to perform, do not hesitate to contact your CUPE 3906 representative or CUPE 3906 directly.

Colleagues in the Teaching Workplace

Instructional Assistants

Instructional assistants work with departments and instructors to facilitate teaching, frequently in larger, first- or second-year courses. They may coordinate a particular component of a course, including some combination of organizing field trips, laboratory operations, tutorials, test days, marking responsibilities, etc. Instructional assistants typically have extensive experience with course material and may provide instructions or guidance to teaching assistants working on a course. They sometimes take on some administrative roles that pertain to teaching assistant contracts and hours of work.

Laboratory Technicians and Staff

In your teaching work, particularly if you lead labs, you will likely encounter laboratory technicians who attend to the functionality of the lab. These staff members may take care of the set-up, maintenance, and acquisition of lab materials. It is beneficial to get to know the lab staff and to adhere to established laboratory standards.

Departmental or Program Administrative Staff

Most departments or programs have administrators who coordinate the operations of the department. This person likely coordinated your TA contract and will send out emails regarding teaching assistant training opportunities and meetings in the department. This person will also likely have key information about logistics in the department (e.g., use of keys, photocopiers, room bookings), academic matters (e.g., prerequisites, contacts for teaching concerns), and insight into departmental culture. Remember to treat all staff with respect and to make requests in a timely manner to ensure you are able to secure needed resources.

Working with the Teaching Team

Instructors and Professors

In your work as a teaching assistant, you will be working with an instructor or professor. Sessional instructors, contractually limited appointment (CLA) professors, teaching-track professors, and tenure-track professors all teach courses. Sessional instructors are hired to teach an individual course for a specific department and may work at multiple universities and therefore have limited time on campus. CLA professors may focus on teaching and/or teaching and research, but are in temporary positions (typically multi-year contracts). Teaching-track professors are permanent faculty whose duties are primarily teaching. Tenure-track professors are permanent faculty whose duties include research and teaching. While the course instructor’s specific role is unlikely to change your specific duties, knowing these categories can be helpful for understanding your colleagues’ responsibilities and the working life of the university.

In some courses, you will interact with the instructor on a regular basis, while in others, you may work more independently. In instances where you interact directly with the instructor, it is important that you clearly communicate any questions or issues that you may have. If you are unsure of how to handle an issue with marking, a student’s conduct, or any other concern, you can turn to the instructor as the ultimate authority in the course. It is important to communicate issues with the instructor very clearly and ask for advice. This will decrease the probability of a simple issue escalating in the future.

Before your first tutorial or lab you will meet with your course instructor to complete your Hours of Work form, as discussed above. At this meeting, you may also want to ask some of the following questions:

• Who are the other members of the teaching team? How will we divide our responsibilities?
• What kinds of students take this class (e.g., background with subject, level, etc.)?
• What are the course goals/objectives?
• Will the course be using Avenue to Learn or other web-based platforms? Who will maintain this?
• Do I structure my own labs/tutorials or are there outlines I will follow?
• Is there a rubric for grading assignments? Are we expected to create our own rubric?
• What should I do if I am unable to attend a class/lab/tutorial?
• Is student attendance in tutorials/labs mandatory?
• What are the policies and penalties for late assignments?
• Am I permitted to grant extensions to students? If so, is there anything I should keep in mind when granting extensions?
• How do I get audiovisual equipment if I need to use it?
• Will you be evaluating my teaching? When?
• How do I get in contact with you if I have a question or concern?

For additional guidance on questions to ask, Western University outlines five conversations every TA should have with their course instructor.

Working with Other Teaching assistants

In some courses, you may find yourself working with other TAs, either directly in your lab/tutorial section or as colleagues assigned to the same course. If you work in the same lab/tutorial section, it is important to meet well in advance of your first session to ensure that the duties have been clearly determined and that all TAs agree on the structure of the session. If you are working with a more experienced TA, be sure to ask them any questions you may have about the session or the material being covered. It is okay to acknowledge that you are unfamiliar with a topic, and more senior TAs can be a great resource.

In a situation where you are sharing duties with other TAs (marking, preparing or conducting a lab/tutorial, etc.), it is important to be clear about your responsibilities and how they may affect the work of your colleagues. Ensure that you are respectful of the needs and opinions of the other TAs. If a conflict does arise, try to be understanding and respectful. If you are unable to resolve the conflict on your own, contact the Head TA or Instructor of the course for assistance.