Teaching Practicum - Department of Computer Science, State University Of New York at Stony Brook

CSE 698, Practicum in Teaching

Credits: 0-3 (chosen by the student)

Grading: Letter-graded (ABCF)

Instructor: Varies by Section

Official Catalog Description

Supervised teaching in a course identified by the student and the Graduate Program Director

Expanded Course Description

Students assist the faculty in teaching by conducting a recitation or laboratory section that supplements a lecture course, grading assignments and exams, proctoring exams, and more. Students receive regularly scheduled supervision from the faculty instructor.  May be repeated for credit.  At most 3 accumulated credits can count as a lecture course for MS students.

See https://www.cs.stonybrook.edu/students/Graduate-Studies/TA for a description of TA responsibilities and expectations.  TAs are expected to be available on campus for proctoring and grading exams until the official end of the semester.  Absence from proctoring exams may lead to a poor TA evaluation and grade.

TAs will be required to attend mandatory TA training that the department will conduct in the first 1-2 months of the semester. The training is expected to comprise two sessions of 1.5 hours each, totaling about 3 hours. Further information will be announced around the start of the semester.  This training is critical for handling grading fairly, interacting with students, conflicts of interest, handling cheating cases (if any), and more.  Students who fail to complete the training will receive an 'I' grade in CSE 698.

Grading Criteria

Instructors fill out a form to evaluate each TA for each course at the end of t??he semester, using the following criteria (on a scale of 1-5), and also providing written feedback:

1. Expertise (familiarity with the concepts and course material)
2. Attendance/Participation (e.g., holding office hours, online discussions)
3. Grading Punctuality (e.g., grading completed on time)
4. Grading Consistency/Fairness (e.g., grades are reliable)
5. Interaction with Students (e.g., treating all students equitably and with respect)
6. Preparation (attendance in TA orientation sessions)

Selection Criteria

• Students who have been at Stony Brook for at least one semester should have a Graduate GPA of 3.3 or higher to serve as a TA.  Students who do not meet this condition may be considered under exceptional circumstances.
• Newly admitted graduate students will generally be permitted to TA only lower-division (1xx-2xx) undergraduate courses, and a limited set of upper-division courses that are clearly marked on the course-specific requirements. 
• Students who have been at Stony Brook for at least one semester should select at least one upper-division (3xx-4xx) course, and, when possible, a graduate course (5xx) among their preferences.
• Permission to TA will be given only if you have a reasonable academic load, e.g., no more than 9 credits (excluding CSE 698), or even lower if you plan to do internship or graduate in this term. Permission will be rescinded if you enroll in significantly more credits than stated in this form. TA-ship takes time and effort, and we want to make sure you have sufficient capacity to perform well.

Course Outcomes

• Provide teaching experience through recitations, laboratory supervision, and the development of assignments and projects.
• Develop communication skills by student and faculty interaction.