TA Evaluation

What is the Mid-Quarter Check-in?

The ECE Department is committed to ensuring that TAs feel supported and have a positive experience working with instructors. Feedback is being collected to help enhance the support system. All data will be anonymized before being shared with the Director of Academic Services and the Associate Chair for Education.

How do I get students’ feedback for my teaching?

The ECE department will automatically generate an End-of-Quarter Course Evaluation form for all instructors and TAs through the UW IASystem (sign in required). You may also ask your instructor to set up an evaluation form if you’d like to hear specific feedback from students. Contact grad@ece.uw.edu if you have any questions.

The course evaluation from students may benefit TAs for their future job applications related to teaching, mentorship, and leadership. Students’ feedback can serve as great material to establish your teaching portfolio recommendation letters. You may ask your instructor to encourage students in class to fill out the TA course evaluation.

Logistics

How to hold office hours and make room reservations?

  1. Click on the Meeting Room Calendars on the ECE scheduling page
  2. Select meeting rooms to check available time slots
  3. Request a reservation

Tips for holding office hours:

  1. You might need a larger room for a larger class.
  2. If none of the ECE rooms are available, you can reserve space in other buildings/libraries: https://www.lib.washington.edu/services/spaces, or the 1st floor atrium and the 2nd floor atrium.
  3. Set boundaries — hold office hours NOT at your desk.
  4. Guide students, but not by giving away the answers. Some examples:
    • “What have you come up with so far?”
    • “What seems to be the problem area?”
    • “What concepts are not clear yet?”
    • “Let’s go over a similar example (from lecture)”

Where are the instructional labs, and how to access them?

You may find the information of the computing labs here: https://peden.ece.uw.edu/computing/computing-lab-locations/.

Where to print course materials?

  1. TAs can print/scan course materials in the ECE building. There are two printers, currently located in the Main Office and in M334. To access them you will login with your NetID username and password. Contact the main office at uweemain@uw.edu if you have any questions.
  2. UW libraries also provide printing and scanning services: https://lib.uw.edu/business/services/printing/.

How to borrow equipment?

  • If you need LCD projectors, Laptops, Video Camera, podium, stanchions, click on Equipment Reservations in the ECE scheduling page (ECE dept. use only).
  • You may also use the UW Student Technology Loan Program (STLP) for Quarter-long Equipment Loans.
  • Contact Lead TA if you need help getting equipment.

Can I get copies of the text book/solution manual/lab kit for the course I am TAing?

Yes, subject to availability, as a TA you can borrow the course textbook, solutions manual, and other course-related material (including whiteboard pens, chalk, etc.). Please email recept@ece.uw.edu with your request. Course laboratory kits can be borrowed, subject to availability, from the ECE store in ECE 137. However, please make sure to return the material borrowed at the end of the quarter.

How do I create a class email list in the ECE department?

If advising has added you as an instructor for the course, you can request creation of a new Mailman class list via MyUW.

How do I set up a class webpage?

Please refer to the computing FAQ page “Setting Up Class Web Pages“.

How to submit a reimbursement?

Non Travel Reimbursement Guidance

ECE TA Award

The Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award recognizes astudent who demonstrates an outstanding contribution to teaching in UW ECE. Nominations may be submitted by faculty, staff, or students. Self nomination is permitted. Award will be selected by student vote. Please visit the ECE Award page for more information. 

ECE Lead TA

In addition to TAs for specific courses, the ECE department employs a Lead TA each year. This person serves as a mentor and adviser to new TAs and as a source of technical assistance to all TAs, course instructors, etc. The Lead TA organizes an orientation/training for all new TAs, holds office hours, visits classrooms and labs, coordinates workshops on specific topics for interested (new and continuing) TAs, and consults with TAs as necessary. This person may also spend some part of his/her time in actual TA duties associated with a specific class if the need arises.

The Lead TA is selected every Winter quarter for the following academic year. There is a separate application process announced to all graduate students. Finalists are selected and interviewed by a committee consisting of the Associate Chair for Education and his/her designees. Competitive candidates will be those graduate students with prior experience as a TA, strong student and faculty feedback/ratings, and who have a stated interest in assisting the department in the development of a strong TA program.

Questions?

Contact ECE Lead TA Amber Chou (hachou@uw.edu).