R. Siegel

March 4, 2003

Microbiology and Immunology 201

Teaching Assistantship

Application Form

Dear Potential TAs -

Thank you very much for your interest in TAing the M&I 201 course.

Below I have listed some background info and a series of questions. Please

do not use the available space as a guideline as to how much you should

write.

It may be a while before I can go through and evaluate all the applications.

Feel free to contact me and see how the process is going. When I am done, I will

need to schedule a meeting with you to go over the application.

All the best, Bob

Background information:

You are all well-aware of the tremendous amount of work involved in TAing this course.

In the past, I have tried to make use of TAs primarily as content and pedagogic experts rather than clerical assistants, (though the latter is sometimes hard to avoid.) I hope to continue this policy in the coming year.

We will continue to improve the quality of the syllabus and of Microbe. Some of this will be administrative improvements; much of it will focus on enhancing the content.

A lot of the work will actually be completed in spring and summer quarters in preparation for the course.

I hope to greatly increase the amount of web related material available to the students, particularly in conjunction with the CPCs.

I also hope to add to the supplementary material in the appendices, including an alphabetical index and a high content factoid section.

Although there will be a lot of flexibility in the roles of the TAs, several things will be required:

§ Helping to write and grading the placement exam

§ Helping to write and grading the final exam

§ Helping to write the make-up exam

§ Helping to set up and take down the parasite labs

§ Teaching a weekly review session

§ Keeping track of the student homework assignments

§ Acting as an effective liaison between the students and the faculty

§ Actively promote the reader, the CPCs and other aspects of the course (part of the cheerleader function)

§ Anticipating student needs with regard to the class

§ Helping to update, correct, and improve the curricular materials including: Microbe, CWP, and the syllabus

§ Helping with class setup on the days when Dr. Siegel lectures.

****Overall, your most important goal should be to help Dr. Siegel with the smooth functioning of the class.

I expect TAs to be self-motivated and to anticipate, detect, and correct any problems that might interfere with the students' ability to master the course material.

Please note that a 25% (or 50%) TA is expected to put in a minimum of 10 (or 20) hours per week or a total of at least 100 (or 200) hours... NOT including class time. Although I hope you will enjoy and learn from sitting in on the class, you will not be required or even expected to attend.

*****

Application questions

1) Describe how you would like to spend your time as an M&I 201 TA in order to most effectively enhance the course.

2) Describe specific ways in which you would contribute to improving the course reader.

3) In addition to the reader, propose as many ways as possible to improve the course for next autumn. Be as specific as possible.

4) What did you like most about last year's weekly TA review sessions and end-of-the-quarter reviews? Can you think of ways in which you might enhance those sessions in the coming year?

5) What is your availability to work on the course during spring, summer, and autumn quarters? (Please specify what other commitments and obligations you will have during those quarters.)

6) Describe any public health experience, computer skills, or other areas of expertise that you will bring to the course.

7) What teaching experience have you had?

8) Please list 1-2 references who can comment on your teaching (preferably) or research.