I have been a teaching assistant (TA) at Carleton University for a few weeks now, so I thought I would give an inside view of what it is like.
It has been an unusual experience for me, considering that I only took the course last year, I am in just my second year, and graduate students are preferred. The course covers first-year introductory Java, a programming language. My duties are pretty modest; just assist students complete their weekly tutorials, and put in some other hours if the professor needs extra help. In theory about 30 students should show up at my tutorial, but usually it’s more like 10-15.
It wasn’t like I just fell into the job. Actually, I barely got it; after all, I applied almost a month after the deadline. I was told that I was on a waiting list but might be hired if positions were still available after the semester had started. Well, I didn’t hear back by mid-January so I gave up on getting the job, but once when I checked my email I received a notice offering a position for one of the courses I had requested. Of course, I responded immediately and set up a meeting with the instructor.
Four days later, I showed up at the tutorial room and got busy answering questions and verifying that students had completed their tutorial (normally coding a short program or two) correctly. Interestingly enough, it is unusual for several students to make the same mistake, so I have to think quickly when I see a bug for the first time. Sometimes, however, I see one bug that practically everyone has trouble finding. The tutorial this past Monday saw one of them. Maybe I’ll take a few minutes next week to describe one or two details regarding “inheritance”.
Anyways, the hours are good, the pay is good, the experience is good, and I am amassing quick solutions to common complications. I will definitely try to get a similar position next semester.