Inside Scoop: Julie Campbell

I’m Julie Campbell, and I am a third-year PhD candidate in Health. I have been a TA for nine different undergraduate courses in kinesiology and health promotion, both in-person and online, at Queen’s University and here at Dalhousie. My roles and responsibilities have included answering emails, marking assignments, helping students in office hours, and leading weekly tutorials. Teaching is exciting because I get to meet lots of amazing students and have them learn something new either through me or each other. I hope to continue to teach as an instructor or professor some day and bring with me all I have learned from my TA experiences into my future career.

Here are five tips for new TAs that I have learned along the way:

Lean on Other TAs

Working together provides opportunities to share strategies and resources. You can learn a lot from those who have been TAs before.

Feel Confident

Remember that you have valuable knowledge and skills to offer. Trust in your abilities and be confident that you can make a positive impact on your students' learning experience.

Set Boundaries

At the beginning of the semester, let your students know your availability and create a policy for responding to emails, such as responding within two working days.

Break Up Marking

Break up marking into small, manageable chunks to make the task less overwhelming, which also helps maintain consistency and fairness in your grading.

Provide Helpful Feedback

Thorough feedback helps students understand and improve on their mistakes and reduces the number of emails asking for clarification later.

Remember to have fun and enjoy the experience. Use this opportunity to learn something new, develop your teaching skills, and connect with students. I hope with these tips, you will enjoy yourself and make a positive impact for students!