Profession university teaching assistant

University teaching assistants are graduate students or recent graduates employed on a temporary contract at a university or a college for teaching-related responsibilities. They assist the professor, lecturer or teacher of the specific course they are in charge of in the preparation of lectures and of exams, grading papers and exams and leading review and feedback sessions for the students.

Personality Type

• Social / Enterprising
• Social / Investigative
• Social / Artistic
• Social / Conventional
• Social / Realistic

Knowledge

• University procedures

  The inner workings of a university, such as the structure of the relevant education support and management, the policies, and the regulations.

• Curriculum objectives

  The goals identified in curricula and defined learning outcomes.

• Assessment processes

  Various evaluation techniques, theories, and tools applicable in the assessment of students, participants in a programme, and employees. Different assessment strategies such as initial, formative, summative and self- assessment are used for varying purposes.

Skills

• Provide lesson materials

  Ensure that the necessary materials for teaching a class, such as visual aids, are prepared, up-to-date, and present in the instruction space.

• Assess students

  Evaluate the students' (academic) progress, achievements, course knowledge and skills through assignments, tests, and examinations. Diagnose their needs and track their progress, strengths, and weaknesses. Formulate a summative statement of the goals the student achieved.

• Prepare lesson content

  Prepare content to be taught in class in accordance with curriculum objectives by drafting exercises, researching up-to-date examples etc.

• Guarantee students' safety

  Ensure all students falling under an instructor or other person’s supervision are safe and accounted for. Follow safety precautions in the learning situation.

• Give constructive feedback

  Provide founded feedback through both criticism and praise in a respectful, clear, and consistent manner. Highlight achievements as well as mistakes and set up methods of formative assessment to evaluate work.

• Supervise practical courses

  Prepare the content and the material required for practical lessons, explain technical notions to students, answer their questions and evaluate their progress on a regular basis.

• Provide assistance to lecturer

  Assist the lecturer or professor by doing several educational tasks including helping with the preparation of lessons or the grading of students. Support the professor with academic and scientific research.

• Assist students in their learning

  Support and coach students in their work, give learners practical support and encouragement.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB