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TA Seminar 2007-2008
TA Orientation 2007
Below are the materials used during the TA Orientation, with the purpose of familiarizing incoming graduate students to the teaching environment of the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Minnesota. The orientation lasts for 7-1/2 days prior to the start of each Fall Semester. These materials were used for the 2007-2008 academic year.
TA Orientation Syllabus 2007
Daily schedule of activities, reading, and homework for the TA orientation.
TA Orientation Activity Book 2007
Booklet of activities conducted during the orientation.
| Entire Activity Book | PDF (3.6 MB) | Word (5.3 MB) |
| Cover & Table of Contents | PDF (121 KB) | Word (354 KB) |
| Activity 1: TA Duties & Rationale for the UMn Model | PDF (63 KB) | Word (46 KB) |
| Power Point Presentations (from 2006 TAO) | PPT1 (383 KB) | PPT2 (109 KB) |
| Activity 2: Expert-Novice Differences in Problem Solving | PDF (235 KB) | Word (115 KB) |
| Graduate Written Exam Fall 2006 | PDF (30 KB) | Word (140 KB) |
| Activity 3: Lab Preparation (sample student lab warm-up questions) | PDF (2.3 MB) | Word (3.2 MB) |
| Activity 4: Demonstration of a Lab Session by Mentor TAs | PDF (169 KB) | Word (49 KB) |
| Activity 5: Structure of Peer Teaching | PDF (228 KB) | Word (67 KB) |
| Activity 6: Coaching During a Discussion Session | PDF (241 KB) | Word (305 KB) |
| Partial Student Solutions (scan) | PDF (405 KB) | |
| Activity 7: Facilitating an End Discussion | PDF (414 KB) | Word (634 KB) |
| Complete Student Solutions (scan) | PDF (628 KB) | |
| Activity 8: Designing a Problem Solving Framework / Answer Sheet | PDF (441 KB) | Word (484 KB) |
| Activity 9: How to Teach the First Lab and Discussion Session | PDF (309 KB) | Word (200 KB) |
| Activity 10: Sexual Harassment,
Academic Honesty, Diversity,
& Gender issues (case studies) |
PDF (146 KB) | Word (56 KB) |
- Problem Solving Answer Sheet 2005 (Activity 8) PDF (16 KB) Word (397 KB)
- Problem Solving Answer Sheet 2006 (Activity 8) PDF (79 KB) Word (29 KB)
TA Instructor's Handbook 2007
Guide to assist instructors in teaching under the Minnesota Model.
| Entire Instructor's Handbook | PDF (2.5 MB) | |
| Cover | PDF (15 KB) | PPT (19 KB) |
| Table of Contents | PDF (16 KB) | Word (38 KB) |
| Intro & Chapter 1: TA Duties and Responsibilities | PDF (196 KB) | Word (326 KB) |
| Chapter 2: Cooperative Group Problem Solving | PDF (854 KB) | Word (2.6 MB) |
| Chapter 3: Teaching a Laboratory Section | PDF (471 KB) | Word (336 KB) |
| Chapter 4: Teaching a Discussion Section | PDF (649 KB) | Word (1.0 MB) |
| Chapter 5: Other Teaching Resources | PDF (596 KB) | Word (865 KB) |
TA Orientation Selected Reading List 2007
Reference list to the articles that are assigned reading for the orientation; includes reading questions.
TA Orientation Peer Teaching Booklet 2007
Lab and Discussion Problems used for Dress Rehearsal
Mentor TA Guide 1999
Guide for the instructors of the orientation.
Writing Intensive Booklet
Material on grading laboratory reports in accordance to the Writing Intensive nature of the introductory physics course. Based on material developed by Dr. Kastman-Breuch of the Department of Rhetoric, University of Minnesota.
This page was last edited on 09/01/2008