University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
School of Public Health
Department of Epidemiology

Fundamentals of Epidemiology (EPID 168)

Teaching Assistant (TA) Responsibilities

   I.  OBJECTIVES FOR TEACHING ASSISTANTS

       1. Contribute to the conduct of an effective and appreciated
          introductory course for epidemiology majors and other interested
          students.

       2. Deepen the TA's understanding of epidemiologic concepts and methods;
 
       3. Enhance the TA's ability to present and communicate concepts,
          methods, and substantive knowledge of epidemiology.

       4. Become familiar with administrative, policy, and pedagogic aspects
          of teaching a course at the graduate level.

  II.  ACTIVITIES and RESPONSIBILITIES

       1. Preparation

          Attend the teaching assistant training sessions conducted by the
          UNC Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) prior to and during
          the semester of working with the course (in 1999 CTL was scheduled
          to conduct a one-day workshop on the Saturday prior to the start of
          classes).  The TA is responsible for making arrangements to attend
          these sessions.

       2. Planning:

          A. Short-term:  TAs are involved in preparing instructional
             materials (exercises, assignments, discussion guides,
             handouts, examinations) and presentations for labs and/or
             lectures.  TAs and instructor(s) meet weekly to:

             a. Monitor the conduct of the course and the learning and
                satisfaction of participants;

             b. Prepare for upcoming activities and tasks (student
                presentations, examinations, special assignments);

             c. Address problems that may have arisen;

             d. Discuss presentation of or questions about difficult or
                complex material.

          B. Long-term:

             TA's assist in creating and/or refining portions of the
             course materials and participate in planning the syllabus
             and critiquing the course at semester's end.  This evaluation
             should include comments and recommendations concerning the
             course objectives, format, materials and procedures as well as
             recommendations for future teaching assistants.  In this way,
             TAs become involved in all aspects of course preparation.

       3. Teaching:

          TA's are directly involved in teaching and learning through
          the following:

             a. Lead a weekly class (lab or discussion section);

             b. Be available for consultation with students outside of
                class (office hours or by appointment);

             c. Advise students about their group presentations;

             d. Conduct special review sessions prior to examinations;

             e. Attend lectures regularly;

             f. (Optional) Assume responsibility for preparing and giving a
                lecture or part of a lecture.

       4. Student evaluation:

          TA's participate in evaluation of student learning as follows:

             a. generate and critique examination questions;

             b. review and pretest draft examinations;

             c. critique examination answers;

             d. critique student written commentaries.

             e. contribute to letters of recommendation when requested.

       5. Administration:

          TA's have the following administrative responsibilities:

             a. serve as a primary liaison between the students in their
                lab groups and faculty.

             b. assist with recordkeeping

             c. assist with reviewing the EPID 168 web pages

 III.  ESTIMATED TIME COMMITMENT

       Average contact time per week is estimated as 7 hours, based on:
       3 hours for attendance at lectures, 2 hours for conduct of lab
       sessions, 1 hour for participation in course meetings, 1 hour for
       conduct of review sessions prior to exams or meeting with individual
       students.  In addition, the following activities are estimated as
       requiring an average of 8 hours/week during the course of the
       semester:  assisting in preparation of course materials (such as
       exercises, assignments, illustrative materials, handouts,
       lecture notes, and examinations), preparing for lab and review
       sessions, assisting in grading of examinations and student written
       commentaries, assisting with course administration and logistics.

       The actual number of hours required per week will vary during the
       semester, with peaks prior to and following each examination.


  (Prepared in conformity with the policy adopted by the Department of
  Epidemiology Faculty May 20, 1985.)

  Of interest:  "TAs and professors as a teaching team: a faculty guide to
  TA training and supervision."  UNC-CH Center for Teaching and Learning, 1992.