1. GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST
Life as a GTA in ECE
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Department of Electronic & Computer Engineering
TA coordinators
Liwen JING & Xuanqi Chen
08/24/2017
GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST

2. GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST
RUNDOWN
GTA Training Program (compulsory for ECE full-time RPg students, especially PGS recipients)
Spoken English Test (ELPA) (compulsory)
PDEV 6770 (compulsory)
GTAs in ECE
TA Assignment Process
TA Duties
Communication skills with course instructor and students
Getting help
Q&A
I are going to cover the following topics:
08/24/2017
GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST

3. GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST
GTA Training Program
Why?
Postgraduate studentship(PGS) recipients are required to be TA or RA.
GTA Training Program will prepare you the essential skills and knowledge in performing TA duties.
What are they?
6 compulsory and 9 elective workshops
08/24/2017
GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST

4. GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST
GTA Training Program
How to register?
Space is limited and advance registration is highly recommended for workshops offered in August to November.
Online registration is available on 25 August 2017.
All workshops are held at classroom 6558 (lift 27/28).
When to finish them?
Within the first 4 terms of study, but we strongly recommend you to finish all 6 core workshops in the first term of study if possible.
What happens next?
You will be presented a certificate in May.
For HK graduate (Aug30, and Sep 04)
08/24/2017
GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST

5. Spoken English Test (ELPA)
Website:
Interview Format
8 mins in total
3 stages (warm-up (1 min), dialogue (4 min) and monologue(3-4min))
Students who receive scores lower than Level 3 in any of the assessment criteria in the speaking test, or who fail to take the Test in the 1st term of study are required to take  LANG5000  Foundation in Listening and Speaking for Postgraduate Students.
Supposed to be held on 21 Aug
Topic development and coherence
Vocabulary range and accuracy
Grammar range and accuracy
Pronunciation
08/24/2017
GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST

6. PDEV 6770 Professional development for research postgraduate students
Please follow the instructions in Wendy’s s or check the RPg Intranet
Professional development for research postgraduate students
PDEV 6770
(Profession Development)
PDEV 6770
(Profession Development)
08/24/2017
GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST

7. GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST
TA Assignment Process
TA Assignment: Indicate your preference online
Must include at least one ELEC course at 4000 level, e.g. ELEC4210
Result will be notified before the term commences
Please contact your course instructor ASAP.
Postgraduate Studentship
TA’s duty as part of the requirement of the PG Studentship
All new RPgs are required to take a spoken English test: ELPA (English Language Proficiency Assessment)
LANG5000: Foundation in Listening and Speaking for Postgraduate Students
08/24/2017
GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST

8. TA Assignment: select your preference online
08/24/2017
GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST

9. GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST
TA Duties
Marking & Grading
Instructing laboratories & Conducting tutorials
Students consultation: TA office hour &
Maintaining course webpage
Exam invigilation
Optional: Attending lecture
If you are not familiar with the course
08/24/2017
GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST

10. Communication Skills with Course Instructor and Students
WHAT are the major channels to communicate with your instructor & students?
With Instructor
With Students
Mainly by
Regular meeting
Meet during office hours
Set an appointment
Ask students to set an appointment by if outside of office hours
08/24/2017
GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST

11. Communication Skills with Course Instructor and Students
HOW should TA communicate with course instructor & students in a profession manner?
With Instructor
With Students
Prepare the questions before the meeting
Behave professionally (as a teacher) when meeting with students
Send the questions and any relevant documents to the instructor BEFORE the meeting
If you don’t know the answer and need some time to search for it, let the students know WHEN you will reply them (e.g. by Friday)
08/24/2017
GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST

12. TA Evaluation by Students
Typical Question List for Students ID
Question
967
How well did the TA prepare for the tutorials in general?
968
How well did the TA explain things to you?
969
How often did the TA give you the chance to participate actively in class?
970
Do you think the TA has a solid knowledge of the subject matter of this course?
971
How often was the TA able to help you when you had a question in your coursework?
972
How easy was it to reach the TA outside of class?
973
How efficient was the TA in responding to the questions you posted online ( or online forums)?
974
How often was the TA able to give you back the graded assignments/tests/reports in time?
975
Is the feedback given by the TA about your assignments/tests/reports useful in general?
976
Is the TA helpful in general?
977
Overall, how do you find the tutorials?
980
How well did the TA prepare for laboratory sections in general?
982
Overall, how do you find the laboratory section?
08/24/2017
GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST

13. Getting help from Department
Check the Notes to TA here
to TA.pdf
Student list of the course – download student enrollment roster through the Canvas system
Student mailing list -> check ITSC website ( bin/itsc/courselist/dept.pl?dept=ELEC)
Metal box (to collect homework) -> ask Rita (Rm.2457)
IT: course web, software -> ask
Borrow the course text book -> go to IT/TA Office (Room 3114)
Course photocopy service -> use the photocopier in Room 2457/3114
08/24/2017
GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST

14. CEI PGC TAC Dept Getting help from TACs Experienced Peer for GTAs
“Bridge” between Dept and GTAs
CEI
Contact TACs Xuanqi CHEN & Liwen JING
&
Consultations on TAs duties
Helping TAs to overcome any difficulties during TA jobs
Organizing activities for TAs, such as career talks, social/ recreational activities
Classroom observation
PGC
TAC
Dept
08/24/2017
GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST

15. GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST
Useful Information
ECE PG Info
PQE, Credit transfer, Thesis, etc
Campus Map
A full campus map can be found on:
Path Advisor
Rooms locations are organized by lift number. E.g. Room 1031 is located between Lifts 1 and 2. You may search for room lift number by visiting this website:
08/24/2017
GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST

16. GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST
Opening ITSC Accounts
ITSC account
Login every system, like myPortal, HKUST , Computer Barn login etc.
ECE Unix account
Mainly login to ECE Linux Computers for using different specific software (Cadence, Synopsys etc.)
myPortal
Path advisor, Library, Sports facilities booking, Course registration, Webmail, etc.
08/24/2017
GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST

17. ECE Department General Office
Room 2457, Lift 25/26
08/24/2017
GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST

18. GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST
08/24/2017
GTA Briefing Session_ECE_HKUST