Teaching Assistant Orientation Mechanical EngineeringSpring 2009

Outline

Responsibilities FERPA (Student Record Security) Worksheet Breakout groups (Recitations, Labs) Using WebVista for Grades Handouts: contact sheet, FERPA summary,

breakout topics

General Job Description

TA appointment dates: January 8, 2009 through May 24, 2009

Last final date: Saturday May 16, 200925% appt = 10 hrs/week

gradingteaching labsrecitationscopiesoffice hourspreparing homework solutionscreating and maintaining course website

Possible tasks

Responsibilities to Course Instructor Check with instructor on a regular basis

1-2 days before an exam 1 week before homework due 1-2 weeks before lab starts Immediately after HW or exams are turned in

Attend class when possible Check in before class starts (i.e. beginning of

semester) Be available for grading final exam Return graded materials in alphabetical order and

within 1 week or less from the due date

Responsibilities to Students

Recitations: prepare presentation, practice, be on time Labs: be sure equipment is running, review prelabs, lab

writeup requirements, BE SAFE Homework solutions: Prepare solutions, do not copy

from solution manual Office hours: Be on time, review solutions ahead of time

Grading: Always use a secure site (WebVista, Moodle) that has backup BE VERY CLEAR with students about DUE DATES (check with instructor if you’re not sure) Follow FERPA guidelines for student record security

What is FERPA?

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records.

FERPA: Educational RecordsThis means the education record includes, but is not limited to: grades, transcripts, WebCT information, advising information, financial aid information, student information in UM Reports and the Data Warehouse, and student photos. If you have student information in your possession, you have a legal responsibility to protect it. 

Rules of thumb regarding student data... Always check to see if a student has suppressed his/her

information before giving out information to a third party (if you can see the information on the directory look up on the One Stop, it is not suppressed).

Never post grades by Social Security Number, student ID number or any other way in which the student could be identified by a third party.

Examinations, term papers, blue books, or any other graded materials containing personally identifiable student information (e.g., name, student ID number) should be distributed directly to students or made available for pick up in departmental offices in a manner that ensures the privacy of each student's grade.

Do not share student class schedules with others. Protect student data as if it were your own.

Application to ME Classes

Emails: Use bcc Grades:

Record grades on a secure site Do not save grades to a laptop (must be

encripted) or flashdrive Delete grades after 1 year

Returning Hw, Exams, Labs: Return in an envelope, or other to the individual Do not leave unattended (outside office door, etc)

Breakout meetings

Recitation TA’s: ME 1130 With Albin and Josh

Lab TA’s: ME 1134 With Ben and Nick

TA Orientation – Spring 2009Subject Support Provider Phone Location Email

Books Jeanne Sitzmann 612.625.5842 ME 1120 jeanne@me.umn.edu

• Check with your course instructor first, there may be books from the previous semester, solution manuals can only be requested by the instructor

Class SuppliesAdmin support staff who works with your instructor

   

• Request supplies (chalk, markers pens) from the secretary who works with your instructor (assigned by floors)

Conference Room Scheduling Betsy Antinozzi 612.625.0140 ME 1100 antin003@umn.edu

• ME Conference rooms: 3125, 4125, 1100, 1130, 325A

Copier Access/Payroll Carrie Romuald 612.624.3355 ME 101 mrampi@me.umn.edu

• If you are not automatically granted copier password access, you must complete an application form located outside room ME 101. • The TA copier is located on the first floor in room 116, outside building key will open rm 116

Custodial Support Facilities Management 612.624.2900    

Email Accounts & Computer Support

Menet 612.626.9800 ME 152 menet@me.umn.edu

Graduate Student Services John Gardner 612.625.2009 ME 1120 jgardner@me.umn.edu

IT Computer Lab Reservations Ray Muno   ME 308 muno@aem.umn.edu

• Email Ray with the date, time and location (IT lab room number), be sure to check software availability

• View existing reservations at: http://www.itlabs.umn.edu/labs/index.php

Key RequestsJeanne Sitzmann or John Gardner

612.625.5842 612.625.2009

ME 1120keys@me.umn.edu

• Your course instructor must submit a written request to Jeanne

Office Hour Scheduling Your course Instructor      

• You and your course instructor decide on your hours and their location. Your prof then sends the request to Jennifer and a room is assigned based on day and availability.

Overview of WebVista

Why use WebCT Secure grade posting Secure homework solutions Potential for online quizzes and grading Easily restrict due dates

Caution Organize information into folders

Learn with online tutorial Course instructor must request a site

Quick tips for posting grades on WebVista

See webvista link that includes training manuals for details http://uttc.umn.edu/training/resources/webvista/

Posting and viewing grades In the teaching tab, select Grades Select the view all tab Reorder columns, hide columns, releasing grades to students, import

columns in this view Importing a column from excel

Excel file must be in .csv format and must have the user id (student id) Excel file entries must be text or numbers, no formulas allowed Choose comma as the separator from the drop down list Select import and decide which “new columns” you would like to create (i.e.

add to your existing grades) Exporting data (resulting file will be .csv format)

Select comma delineated and unicode (UTF-8)

To Do List

Take the FERPA tutorial http://onestop.umn.edu/staff/ferpa_tutorial/index.html

Request a moodle or webvista site for grades Check and update your course web page on

our ME site http://www.me.umn.edu/education/courses.shtml

Work with instructor to develop a secure method to record grades and return homework

Lab Breakout

Grading Identifying plagiarism Lab preparation Sample data (when there are problems with

experiment) Helping students work in groups Getting students to participate Handling questions Returning labs Office hours

Recitation Breakout

Grading Identifying plagiarism Solution Preparation Hints for learning names Posting materials on course website (timely) Preparing for a recitation Getting students involved Handling questions Office hours (what to do with many students) Attending Class