TA Training Program

The Teaching Assistant Training Program in the UCSB Statistics Department aims to provide immediate help to all new and continuing TAs before they start teaching in the Fall quarter. Training continues in the Winter quarter and support is provided throughout the year.

In order to maintain eligibility for TA appointments, every TA must:
- currently be registered as a graduate student for a minimum of 8 units.
- be in good academic standing.
- have at least one section per year videotaped and followed up with a consultation.
- complete the online sexual harassment tutorial.
- have satisfactory quarterly evaluations.
- attend all mandatory TA meetings (to be arranged).

In addition, new TAs are required to register, attend and pass PSTAT 501: Teaching Assistant Training, a one-unit class for Fall and Winter quarters. The program will be run by Dr.D.E.Holmes, the Faculty TA Training Co-ordinator, with the assistance of Nate Bennett, the Lead TA.

Program requirements:
- Attendance at all TA training sessions, which will be held during Fall and Winter quarters. In the event of a TA missing a training session, a written assignment must be completed instead.
- Maintenance of a Teaching Portfolio.
- Discussion sections observed by Dr. Holmes.
- Completion of essays on teaching and learning (topics to be arranged), to be submitted at the end of Fall and Winter quarters.

TA Training Sessions: Fall 2006
9/26/06 New TA Orientation

10/6/06 Planning and Evaluating Section Lesson Plans

10/13/06 Micro-teaching

10/20/06 More Micro-teaching

10/27/06 Dr. Holmes’ teaching how to write a technical paper