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Communication with Students
- How do I use office hours most effectively?
- Should I impose boundaries on email communication?
- What information is useful to include in a section website or a course management system?
- How should I deal with difficult students?
- How should I handle requests for homework and exam solutions and re-grading?
Sometimes I am afraid to go to office hours because I don’t want to look stupid. When I do go, I usually take a friend with me so that I don’t feel so nervous. When I get to know the TA during my first visit, it is easier for me to go again. I had a TA once who held office hours in Kerckhoff. That was really nice because it just felt like I was hanging out with him instead of bothering him with my questions.
Faculty:
As a way of getting to know their students, some professors and TA’s ask their students to visit them for 5-10 minutes during office hours during the first couple of weeks of the quarter to brainstorm ideas for papers or major projects, for example. By doing this, students may feel more comfortable coming to your office when they have questions or concerns during the rest of the quarter.
TA:
I never know if my office hours will turn out to be a one-on-one meeting with a struggling student or a fast-paced Q&A session with more people than I ever imagined my office could hold. You have to be prepared for anything and always remember that you are in charge. For example, if several students have come in but one of them seems to be monopolizing your time, you can choose to answer those questions that most likely concern all of the students and engage everyone in a discussion. On the other hand, if you think that a certain student can benefit from specifically talking to you individually and your office hours are always crowded, you can schedule a separate appointment with him/her at another time.
