Orientation

Every new graduate student is required to attend New TA Orientation. Last year this was 25 students. The Orientation runs for 10 days during the three weeks before the start of classes. Class does not meet everyday.

The following shows how the 40-hours of Orientation class-time is distrubuted among topics:

1. Introduction (3 hours)

   • Course Structure, Students, and TA Duties

2. Alternative Conceptions of Students (7 hours)

3. Teaching the Problem-solving Labs

   • Demonstration Lab (3 hours)
   • Peer Teaching of Lab (12 hours)

4. Teaching the Discussion Sessions

   • Student Difficulites with Problem Solving (3 hours)
   • Teaching Discussion Sessions (4 hours)
   • Characteristics of Good Problems (3 hours)
   • Grading (3 hours)

5. Professionalism and Diversity Issues (3 hours)