C:\_teaching\TA.policy.teaching.guidelines.txt Teaching Assistant and Grading Duties Revised 8/4/21 - Thank you for being TA/grader for this course. It is a team effort to accomplish learning today, and I appreciate your help and leadership. - Each course normally has one teaching assistant (TA) and one or more graders. The graders assist the TA in grading assignments. - The designated teaching assistant (TA) is responsible for coordinating all graders and other course assistants/graders and for reporting to the instructor. This means that the TA is responsible for the grading even if the graders are not performing; therefore it is imperative to establish a relationship with all graders. - The TA must report any non-performance by other TA's or graders to the instructor so that remedial action may be performed, e.g., dismissal from the payroll. - All questions about the course or assignments should be posted on the Discussion section on Canvas, so that everyone can benefit. When we receive emails about assignments, we always ask the students to look up the FAQ or post their questions on Canvas (as mentioned in the syllabus). If they want to discuss about graded assignments, etc., they should come to the TA's office hours. - As a grader, you are not required to answer questions from students; if you are willing to help, please post your answer ONLY ON Canvas discussion, NOT by email, so that everyone can see. Moreover, please forward students' emails (if any) to the TA/instructor. (All graders should pay attention here.) This is emphasized in the "Use of Canvas" section of the course syllabus, and we will post an announcement to class to make things clear. - The TA shall maintain the Canvas course management process, including taking the lead in responding to student inquiries/discussions. For group courses, s/he is responsible for coordinating group membership. Students will be instructed to communication with the TA in the formation of their groups. Requests from students for groups larger then four must be made to the instructor. - Solutions for the assignments are generally available on Canvas in the Private directory. The TA will be responsible for preparing or collating any new solutions and posting them on the private area of the course website. Eventually we would like a consolidated binder of all solutions. It is imperative that TA/Graders not distribute solutions where they may fall into the hands of the students, although it is common knowledge that almost all the textbook problem solutions are available at various pay internet sites. - The TA shall conduct periodic review sessions as needed and make appropriate announcements on Canvas. This is generally not needed for the project-based courses; those courses will require some substantial hand-holding. - In the case of Labs and scheduled review sessions, the TA must have already completed the assignment prior to the session in order to be able to assist the student. Do not try and figure out the problem in front of the student. - The TA shall maintain the course grade book in an Excel file (NOT Google docs, etc.) which is periodically uploaded to the appropriate Canvas website with the same filename each time, under Files/Private. Alternatively, the spreadsheet can be emailed to the instructor. Grading methodology is at the discretion of the TA; in some assignments it is easier to assign N points per problem so that a student might make 65 out of 80 points on an assignment. The TA MUST REPORT THIS GRADE IN THE SPREADSHEET AS A PERCENTAGE, i.e. .8125, not "81.25" or "65/80". - I am not opposed to using the Canvas grade book, but I consider it in no way official. In fact, it represent another opportunity for error and taking up of your time reconciling mistakes and grades which are not in accordance with the Official grades (the spreadsheet). - Project-based course assignments require helpful or corrective comments written on the hard copy of the report. If the TA chooses s/he may prepare .pdf comments on the electronic submission, but in that case the TA must provide a hard-copy with the comments to the instructor for review. (See Project Grading Workflow below.) - For summary written comments and final grade on papers, place final remarks and grade on the FRONT of the VERY LAST page of the package (NOT the third to last page, back of last page, etc.) This provides privacy for when others pick up their papers, and a consistent place to look for the grade. - For projects and so forth some courses use a grade designation with granularity. These designations are as follows: A+ A+/A A A/A- A- A-/B+ B+ B+/B B B/B- B- B-/C+ C+ C C- etc. - GRADED ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE BACK AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS ONE WEEK AFTER SUBMISSION. This is one of the most important parts of the job, please do not fail on this. For projects with LETTER GRADES (see above), please return the graded papers to the instructor at least two days before return deadline; this give the instructor a chance to add comments, review the grades, and include some excerpts in the "Good Work" presentations. - Project-based courses grading is governed by the Professional Standards paradigm. You do not have to explain your deductions for PS violations, you can just indicate "PS -1," "PS -2," etc. See the guidelines on the instructor's website: http://www.stat.rice.edu/~dobelman/courses/index.html#professional_standards - The TA must make determinations on late submission penalty in accordance with the course syllabus. - Sometimes a student will talk to the instructor with a specific question about a problem/assignment; I will usually refer them to the TA, or I may make a change that appears right to me, but that they must contact you for change of grade, etc. With the advent of Canvas, we are supposed to use that for discussion about assignment issues so everyone may benefit. - Since I check my snail mail box about as often as I change oil in my car, NEVER put graded assignments in my mailbox. Always put in my office or under my door. - If any changes are proposed to Canvas assignment write-ups, please send me a draft first since I maintain the master file which is then copied into Canvas. - Student timesheets are managed by the department coordinator, Ms. Margaret Poon , x6032. She will decide when timesheets are due, etc. Project Grading Workflow ------------------------ 1. Follow all guidelines above. 2. Check all professional standards items 3. Check that all required work has been done for proper course level. If not, count off appropriately. 4. Check for any extra credit to grade and comment appropriately. 5. Follow all guidelines above. 6. Actual grading mechanics are contained in the file STAT 682_686 Grading Process.pdf, posted in the applicable Canvas course site. Please read this document since it outlines the steps needed to grade and return reports in the online environment.