The first two weeks
I haven’t posted anything for a week! And I have so much to talk about. It’s just that between TA labs and lectures, Grading students’ assignments, trying to concentrate on my thesis, and lying exhausted and motionless on the couch, I cannot find time to write.
It’s always like this the first couple of weeks of the semester. Everything is crazy and chaotic. Everyone is running around, trying to get things started. New people are always looking for things and places and web addresses and ways to open doors! (Some of my students still don’t know how or can’t open the lab doors using their student cards!) My schedule is full of events that overlap each other or fall directly on each other.
Hopefully, everything will get better soon. And I’ll write more. I promise!
**************************************
I attended a TA workshop, “How to give constructive feedback on student work.” Here are some of the things they told us not to do and say:
-Don’t tear apart student’s papers!
-Don’t draw smiley faces on student assignments.
-Don’t write or say the following:
—You are waste of my time!
—You shouldn’t be here!
—I don’t get it!
—How about proofreading?!
Isn’t that something?!!
But seriously! It’s hard to always do it right. To point out their strengths first, then indirectly say where their work needs improvement, and give them a hint on how to improve. Keep in mind not to over-comment, not to attack the individuals, not to discourage them. And all of that should be done for all of them, 24*2 students, at least 4-5 pages of assignment and/or an electronic file each!
Oh boy!
Badass Geek said,
September 11, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I give you major credit for being a TA. I’d never be able to do it.
Melody said,
September 12, 2008 at 1:03 am
Ooops! I used to draw happy-face smileys next to those sections of their assignments where something was really perfect or innovative, just to encourage them and say “sound job! thank you!”…:-S…I shouldn’t have done that, yep?!