Syllabus, BIO 3990, Teaching Assistant for Anatomy and Physiology

  • BIO 3990 – Teaching Assistant for Human Anatomy and Physiology. 1-2 credits of upper division Biology may be earned.  Money may also be earned through Financial Aid Work Study.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • You must be a student at Metropolitan State University of Denver.
  • You must have completed the course that you are assisting in with a letter grade of “A” or “B.”
  • If you are a transfer student, you must complete at least one semester here at MSU before registering for the TA program.

If you meet the above QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Time expectations are 3 hours per week for one BIO 3990 credit during Fall and Spring semesters or 6 hours per week for Summer semester. Labs are the 2 hour 50 min. blocks of time in 2087 or 2089. Summer labs are longer.
  • The credits work out to one credit for one lab per week. The maximum you can do in a semester is 2 credits and the maximum that will apply to the Biology major is 4.  These are upper division BIO credits.
  • If you qualify for Work Study through Financial Aid, you may get paid for being a TA whether you are doing it for credit or not. Work-study is awarded on a first come, first served basis. More information may be found at https://www.msudenver.edu/financial-aid/work-study/ Students who are interested in receiving work-study must submit their FASFA form and then express interest in work-study when prompted by the Office of Financial Aid.  Then, you must confirm your award status in the Student Hub and complete the hiring documents.  Your official supervisor will be Jessica Ovitz ([email protected]) in Science 2042 who is the default supervisor for all biology work study students.  She will help you through this process.
  • Apply for the position once work study funding is approved: You must be logged in to Workday for the link to work. Teaching Assistant – JR100632 – https://www.myworkday.com/msudenver/d/inst/15$158872/9925$685.htmld Jessica Ovitz in the Biology office (SI 2042, [email protected]) will be listed as your supervisor.  Once hired, Jessica will be approving timesheets and sending out work study balances throughout the semester.
  • Being a TA is a win-win situation for teacher and student.  The student becomes more knowledgeable in anatomy and has a “looks good” extra item for applications to graduate programs or jobs. It is certainly a leadership position.  The teacher benefits in mentoring the TA and receiving some help.
  • If you want credit for the TA position, let your teacher know.  Your teacher will fill out a form to request an override so that you can register.  Once the override is approved, you will receive an email letting you know that you can now register.  Of course if you get credit, you pay tuition on the credit and earn a grade. Dr.  Gagliardi-Seeley is the teacher on record for all TAs and your instructor will submit your grade to Dr. Gagliardi-Seeley at the end of the semester.
  • Please feel free to contact Dr. Hays if you have any questions. [email protected]

Key Personnel: Faculty Advisor: Dr. Clare Hays,  SI 2032, [email protected]

Official Course Syllabus: TA in Biology Regular Course Syllabus

GRADES

If you do the Teaching Assistantship for credit, you will receive a letter grade.  The following are the minimum requirements for each grade:

GRADE of “A”

  • Perfect attendance and never showing up more than 5 minutes late.  (Make up opportunities, through attending other labs or completing a small lab project, are possible to count towards perfect attendance, if you have an excusable absence or tardy.)
  • High degree of preparedness for labs.  While you are not expected to be an expert on all structures, it needs to be apparent that you have made a good faith effort to prepare for the lab.
  • Proactively interacting with students.  A TA that is interacting with the students, being proactive by wandering between student groups asking if they need help rather than observing and waiting for a question, is a good TA.
  • Observed growth that you develop in teaching/helping the students throughout the semester.

GRADE of “B”

  • One absence or more than 2 tardies.
  • High degree of preparedness for labs.  While you are not expected to be an expert on all structures, it needs to be apparent that you have made a good faith effort to prepare for the lab.
  • Proactively interacting with students.  A TA that is interacting with the students, being proactive by wandering between student groups asking if they need help rather than observing and waiting for a question, is a good TA.
  • Observed growth that you develop in teaching/helping the students throughout the semester.

GRADE of “C”

  • More than one absence or more than 2 tardies.
  • Moderate degree of preparedness for labs.
  • Waits for students to ask questions or chats with others during most of the lab.
  • Little growth as a teacher/mentor during the semester.

GRADE of “D”

  • More than three absences or more than 4 tardies.
  • Little degree of preparedness for labs.
  • Chats during most of the laboratory or does work unrelated to lab.
  • No growth as a teacher/mentor during the semester.

GRADE of “F”

  • Numerous absences/tardies.
  • No lab preparation.
  • Does not help students during lab.