Welcome to CS301 Class #1 Spring 2002
January 25, 2002

Introduction, Fears and Expectations

Instructor: Dan Garcia <ddgarcia@cs>
TA: Christopher Hirsch <chirsch@uclink4>

Class outline

• Spectrum [D]
  • Teaching Experience: Lots/None
  • Teaching: Enthusiastic / Dread
  • Career: Teaching / Research
  • Importance of money: Ascetic / Gordon Gecko
  • Computer: Mac / Windows / Unix
  • Any questions people want to ask of your colleagues?
• Our intro (+ handouts)
• Name whip [C]
  1. Name
  2. Class you're teaching
  3. Teaching experience
  4. Year in school
  5. Area
  6. Where undergrad (just for the grad students)
  7. Stupid Human Tricks
• HowDidItGo(tm) [D]
• Break, photos, sign-in sheet
• Fears Allayed (2002-1-25) [C]
  • Class helps allay any remaining anxieties
  • Everyone contributes when they feel like it, like a popcorn popper
• More about us, why we're doing this
• Our goals for the course
  1. Learn about teaching and education -- what works? what doesn't?
  2. Encourage TA community
  3. Provide support for any issues that arise
  4. Motivation (the Jerry Maguire effect)
  5. Teaching journals directed by "Journal Message of the Week"
  6. Online homework submission
  7. Provide resources to TA - Who needs 2000T&O book?
• Buddy TAing
• Rough syllabus
  1. Week 1: Intro, fears & expectations, goals
  2. Week 2: Mechanics of Teaching
  3. Week 3: How to be a great TA
  4. Group learning
  5. Diversity & disabilities
  6. Case studies
  7. Preparation and time management
  8. Grading / testing / cheating / what-ifs
  9. Video reflection & creative ways to run section
  10. Group management
• Homework
  • Read TA Essential handout; be prepared to discuss it next week
  • Find another TA (need not be from the same class) with whom you could buddy
  • Tools for Teaching
    • Chapter III (secs 8-11) "Discussion Strategies"
    • Chapter VI (sec 21-23) "Enhancing students' learning and motivation"
  • Register online
  • http://www-inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/~cs301/
  • Journal for next week: "First, feel free to address any remaining unresolved fears or concerns. Then, spend some time reflecting on what you need to do to best prepare for your next section, given what happened this first week."