TAing at IITK

My first ever stint as a TA was during my fifth year at IIT Kanpur. Since IITK has a good number of graduate students, the overall load was light. For most part of the semester, my job simply involved LaTeXing assignments and solutions, getting photocopies, and putting up solutions on the notice board.

The assignments were handed out on a weekly basis, and both text and figures involved math symbols (it was a communications course). Since I had a limited knowledge of LaTeX and related drawing tools, I ended up spending a lot of time drawing the figures.

At times when the instructor was absent, I was also called upon to take some of the tutorial sessions. These sessions involved explaining solutions to one or more of the problems in case people were struck. Since I already had the solutions, the task was not challenging in any way. Indeed, after I had taken a couple of sessions, I wondered how some of my own past tutorial instructors had managed to do such a bad job.

The instructor of the class was Prof. AK Chaturvedi. Perhaps the most beneficial aspect of that TAship was the opportunity to observe one of the best teachers in the EE department up close. I specifically remember admiring his attention to detail. For instance, I was often careless and made typos in almost all the assignments and solutions. Needless to say, he used to catch all the typos - every time. He also made significant efforts trying to be available in his office before quizzes and exams and often organized extra office hours inviting students to clear their doubts.

Finally, the most boring part was having to stand in the lecture hall while the students wrote their exams. But I suppose it would be boring even if I were to become a professor.

Student Feedback Forms

Its judgment day and the anonymous student feedback forms have finally arrived. I contended that they were probably filled halfheartedly. It was the last day of classes and everyone had something better to do. But I did hope that they would at least provide me some feedback on my teaching style.

Unfortunately however, there weren't many long comments. Most of the responses to "What did the instructor do that most helped your learning?" were "Helped me when I got struck" or "Explained the problem well." Fortunately, the response to "Additional Comments" was always "Very good TA" or "Best TA ever." I am satisfied but (a little) sorry that I will probably not be TAing again - I have an RA now.

Of the lighter side, there were some interesting comments as well. The following was a response to "What did the instructor do to help..."

"Was able to look at the circuit and instantaneously tell the problem."

In reality, I have always sucked at circuits. This was the reason why I kept away from circuits courses in my undergrad and chose communication. In the lab though, every one is doing the same experiment and makes similar mistakes. Since I was always skirting around the lab trying to see where people got struck, I was always up-to-date with the common mistakes of the session. From a student's perspective though, it would have appeared instantaneous. Too bad the speed of light is finite.

The following was a response to "Additional Comments"

"I wanna be the very best
Like no one ever was
To catch them is my real test
To train them is my cause..."

I was stumped when I first saw these lines. Who is this guy trying to catch ? A little search revealed that the lines are from Pokeman (the anime) and the only thing he is trying to catch is his breath from running animarathons. Ironically, his response to the number of course hours spent was 0-2: pretty low for someone who wants to be the "very best."