Instructional Assistant service, MSE & WE

A core graduate program educational objective in the department is intellectual leadership. Intellectual leadership involves more than the generation of knowledge through research, but also its transfer through effective communication. We expect our students to be able to teach what they have learned and to be able to critically judge the technical communications and ideas of others. Service as an Instructional Assistant provides students with opportunities to meet this important objective while assisting the undergraduate academic program.

Instructional Assistant (IA) service credits are earned while assisting the faculty with the instruction of MSE or WE courses. This assistance can take the form of aid in a lab class, recitation, grading, Carmen assistance, etc. On average, IA service should take roughly 6 hours of the student’s time per week, on average, during the semester of service. IA assignments are not typically made until the student's second year in the program.

Students do not register for IA credit every term; typically students are given an IA assignment after being in the department for one to two terms.

MSE degree requirements:

  • MS without Thesis (terminal degree) students are not required to serve as Instructional Assistants.
  • Master's with Thesis students are to attend DITL training and serve as an IA for two terms.
  • BS/MS students are to attend DITL training and serve as an IA for one term. Should the student continue on to pursue a PhD, then one additional semester of service will be required.
  • PhD students are to attend DITL training and serve as an IA for two terms.

WE degree requirements:

  • MS without Thesis (terminal degree) students are to attend DITL training and serve as an IA for one term. Note that this applies only to full-time on-campus students. Online and part-time students are exempted from this requirement.
  • Master's with Thesis students are to attend DITL training and serve as an IA for one term.
  • BS/MS students are to attend DITL training and serve as an IA for one term. Should the student continue on to pursue a PhD, then one additional semester of service will be required.
  • PhD students are to attend DITL training and serve as an IA for two terms.

Timing

New graduate students are typically not placed as IAs during the first year in the department. Prior to the start of their first Autumn following initial enrollment in the MSE department, MSE & WE students are to attend teaching orientation provided by the Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning (DITL).

Training

Students are to attend a 3-day workshop hosted by the Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning (DITL). This training workshop will help the student feel more comfortable in the IA role by providing students with information on university policies, teaching & learning styles, the design of lessons, assessing student learning, and more. The training is offered once per year shortly before the start of Autumn Semester. A student would attend in the first session available after their initial term of enrollment (i.e., those admitted in AU## would take the training offered before the start of AU##+1).

Registration:

DITL orientation

Students will be alerted to their need to attend DITL training during the summer prior to the offering of the training. This typically occurs during the first summer following admission.

Instructional Assistant assignments

Prior to the start of each term, MSE & WE graduate students will be alerted to the teaching needs for the coming term. Volunteers' wishes will be accommodated, if possible, and additional students will be assigned as IAs, if necessary, to meet the Department's service needs. IAs will be emailed assignments with instructions and registration class numbers.

Participants earn graduate credit (graded S/U) for IA service.

Paid 25% GTA positions

Students who have completed the IA service requirement may be eligible to take on a 25% Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) position on top of their existing funding. Eligible MSE and WE graduate students may be considered, with advisor approval. Limitations on who may take on this additional funding exist, please contact the MSE-WE Grad Studies Coordinator if interested.

Resources

Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning
Teaching and learning are constantly evolving, lifelong pursuits. The The Drake Institute offers career-long professional learning opportunities and teaching resources to all who teach at Ohio State.

Carmen--Instructor's Guide
Carmen, Ohio State's online learning management system, automatically provides a blank course shell for every course in the Registrar's Master Schedule. Often IAs are asked to maintain the Carmen site for the course instructor. This guide provides detailed instruction maintaining class lists, posting grades, making assignments, and much more.

Classroom Services
Classroom Services supports the teaching spaces found around campus. This includes information on the use of in-room technology & hardware, as well as reserving additional resources that can be scheduled for use during a semester.

Online, Hybrid, and In-Person Teaching Resources
The Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) provides technology support for instructors. This support helps you find the right tools and strategies to keep teaching and support student success, whether that be in-person, online or a combination of both. Includes information on Canvas, Zoom, Top Hat, MediaSite, and more.

Forms

 

Faculty: Please use this
Faculty IA-GTA Assistance Request form

Grad Students: Please use this
Student IA-GTA Position Request form