Students holding a teaching assistantship (TA) will typically be assigned to
- teaching a small class and/or
- conducting tutorial sessions and/or
- instructing computer labs and/or
- grading assignments and exams and/or
- assisting flipped classroom and flexible learning.
Taking Time Off
A TA position is like a regular job and the contract runs until the end of the term (not just the end of classes)! This means any vacation you want to take during this time must first be discussed with the course instructor! This includes travel plans for the end of the term. First check with the instructor that the plans do not interfere with the final exam of the course. You most likely are required to invigilate the exam! The TA Union (CUPE 2278) also has very good resources if you want to know your rights and obligations as TA.
Communication
TAs are obliged to demonstrate and maintain a satisfactory level of communication skills and teaching performance. TA duties provide a forum for ongoing development of communication and teaching skills, but presume the student has already achieved a reasonable level of proficiency.
If no problems with communication or teaching arise from student evaluations or faculty concerns, for example, then no remedial action is taken. If a problem with communication skills is detected then a language committee is formed for the student.
If a problem is detected in teaching, the Graduate Advisor deals with it, in conjunction with the faculty member responsible for TA training and evaluation. Failure to maintain satisfactory communication and teaching can result in the reduction or cancellation of TA ships. Moreover, the longer a student is a TA, the more is expected by the Department. In particular, by the end of a Ph.D. program a student should be able to teach a course.