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. Students who are interested in receiving work-study must submit the appropriate WK__ form for the academic year. This is available on the Forms section of the Financial Aid page. This form must be signed by the supervisor (Jessica Ovitz – Science 2042 or electronically through [email protected]) and all the necessary information must be complete. Continuing student employees who have already received work-study in the previous year and have a completed file with the Financial Aid Office by the priority packaging deadline will be offered work-study before new applicants. These students must submit the WK__ form for the award to be accepted by a set deadline or the award will be canceled. Students who apply after the deadline and/or after funds have already been allocated are placed on a wait-list. The wait-list is awarded in date order that the WK__ form is received and that requirements are complete. Students who do not earn their work-study within the first three payrolls will have their work-study award canceled. After the work study approval, which will show up on your Financial Aid student page, you may apply for the position.
  • 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.  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.