TA Resources

Professional Development

Completion Deadline: Last day of classes in the semester

Every mechanical engineering TA needs to continually improve, and one way to improve is to continually educate yourself in the art and craft of teaching. For that reason, TAs are required to invest in their professional development by completing several commitments. These commitments are listed below. All should be submitted via the TA Canvas site shared at the beginning of the semester.

Peer Observation — Will complete and report a peer observation before the last day of classes.
Continuing Education — Will complete and report on one TA continuing education activity before the last day of classes.

Access the TA Canvas site

Continuing Education Example Activities:
Attend a workshop
Complete an online tutorial
Take an online course
Read a book on teaching methods
Watch a webinar
Listen to a podcast
Need a Place to Start? Check out the Center for Educational Innovation. CEI has numerous offerings listed on their website.

Evaluations

Every semester TAs are to be evaluated by their course-enrolled students prior to the last day of classes via the form linked below. Compiled evaluation results will become part of the student's records. The ME Department does NOT use the SRT for its teaching assistants. Evaluations are compiled through the ME Student Services office.

Job Commitment: Be evaluated by the students of your course. This evaluation should not be confused with the course evaluation, which is separate and relates to the course instructor.

Two Types of TA Evaluations

A. Evaluations done by the students enrolled in the course.

Deadline: Last day of classes in the semester
Student Evaluation for ME TAs

Each semester, the ME Student Services Office will send an announcement when evaluations become available and/or links go live. Note that the ME Department does NOT use the Student Rating of Teaching (SRT) for our Teaching Assistants. Instead, enrolled students should use the ME form listed below or visit z.umn.edu/me-ta-evals to evaluate their TA(s). There are some cases where TAs may be exempt from this commitment. Please see the Process Flowchart to determine if you are exempt.

B. Evaluations done by the course Instructor

Deadline: Last day of classes in the semester
Instructor Evaluation of TA

The instructor for the course evaluates their TAs by completing the form found at the link below. How well a student does/doesn't will help the DGS determine who will receive contracts during the appointment period.