STEMskiller: Skill Set Map for Mentors of Early Career Researchers
LEARNING, TEACHING, AND SUPERVISING: Basics for early career researchers
[Teaching and learning theories, styles, and methods]
Roles and expectations: concepts and definitions; resources for learning more
Definition:
As noted in the Teaching skills section, roles and expectations for graduate assistants (GAs), graduate teaching assistants (GTAs), and graduate research assistants (GRAs) can different according to local institutional definitions and practices. Often, GAs and GRAs may not, if they are not teaching or mentoring, lead to teaching and learning evaluation. However, being familiar with formal evaluation processes for GTAs may be useful in future teaching and learning interactions (e.g., managing research groups or other teams).
Useful resources on Roles and expectations:
The Dixon Lab. (n.d.). Dixon lab expectations. http://www.dixsonlab.com/student-expectations
Some research group expectations, with sample PhD expectations. Most applicable for GRAs in seeing sample expectations for the first time and can be used as a template by mentors.
Graduate Employees’ Organization (GEO). (2020). Rights & benefits. https://www.geo3550.org/rights-benefits/
At some institutions, graduate assistant contracts are negotiated in part together with unions, such as the University of Michigan’s GEO. Sample rights and benefits of employment contracts are listed in the link above; sample related official University of Michigan page on this topic, for comparison, at: https://hr.umich.edu/working-u-m/my-employment/academic-human-resources/faculty-appointments/graduate-student-instructors-graduate-student-staff-assistants-appointment-guide.
University of South Florida Academy for Teaching and Learning Excellence. (2020). (a.) Teaching evaluation: Adjunct/TA evaluation. https://www.usf.edu/atle/teaching/teaching-evaluation.aspx#adjuncts, (b.) Graduate assistant performance appraisal. https://www.usf.edu/graduate-studies/documents/usf-graduate-assistant-performance-evaluation.pdf
(a.) Sample standard for annual assessment of adjuncts and TAs. Includes link to sample annual performance evaluation for adjunct instructors (Word document) that could be modified for use by mentors.
(b.) Sample performance appraisal form applicable to all kinds of graduate assistants (GAs, GTAs, GRAs).
Tags: IPS IA; IPS CritT; IPS CreaT; IPS WC; IPS OC; IPS R; IPS QL; IPS IL; IPS T; IPS PS; PSR CE; PSR IKC; PSR ER; PSR LL; PSR GL; IAL IntL; CompQ
Peer Review: None
Table of contents:
Author: Stephanie Krueger
Peer Reviewer(s): None
Last Updated: October 28, 2021