Guiding and mastering the MIT teaching assistant role: An intricate blend of art and intellect
In the bustling Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at MIT, the role of teaching assistants (TAs) is a crucial one. Haley Nakamura, a second-year MEng student, encapsulates the essence of this role as an "art form" that requires continuous adaptation and effort.
Nakamura serves as a TA for the massive machine learning course, 6.3900 (Introduction to Machine Learning), which enrolls approximately 400-500 students per semester. The course structure includes multiple instructors, TAs, and lab assistants, each managing sections of around 60-70 students.
Her responsibilities are diverse and demanding. Nakamura helps students troubleshoot circuits and manages the planning and logistics necessary for such a large class. The role is challenging, but Nakamura finds the rewards intrinsic, such as deepening her own understanding and witnessing the 'aha' moment on a student's face.
EECS TAs at MIT play a pivotal role in supporting large-scale courses. They guide students through complex content, support labs or project work, and often handle logistical challenges of large enrollment courses. Balancing academic responsibilities with teaching duties is a difficult but rewarding challenge, requiring patience and adaptability.
Haley Nakamura's experience underscores the difficulty of the role, which she describes as "probably the hardest thing" she has done at MIT. However, she is not alone in this endeavour. Other TAs, such as Soroush Araei and Hope Dargan, also play vital roles in the department.
Dargan, a second-year PhD student, is known for her dedication to reaching students who may not fit into the stereotype of the scientist. She gained her teaching license as an undergrad through the MIT Scheller Teacher Education Program (STEP) and has designed educational interventions for students struggling in class. In 2023, she was awarded the Goodwin Medal for her teaching efforts.
Araei, a sixth-year graduate student, teaches alongside his PhD advisor. He finds the rewards for his work are often intrinsic, such as deepening his own understanding and witnessing the 'aha' moment on a student's face. He also faces challenges in designing problem sets and selecting questions for office hours due to the variety of background knowledge between students in a single class.
Coordination and organization are key to the smooth running of these courses. The courses require eight instructors at the lecturer/professor level, 15 TAs, and about 50 lab assistants (LAs). The role of head TA has expanded to include a head TA, a head undergraduate TA, and section leads, ensuring that the course runs smoothly and effectively.
In conclusion, MIT EECS TAs like Haley Nakamura serve as critical educational intermediaries who manage teaching and logistical tasks for large courses, adapt to diverse student needs, and overcome significant time management and teaching challenges while pursuing their own graduate studies. Their dedication to education and their students is evident in the challenges they face and the rewards they reap.
- In the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at MIT, learning and teaching are intertwined, especially for teaching assistants (TAs) like Haley Nakamura.
- Nakamura, a second-year MEng student, is a TA for the course 6.3900 (Introduction to Machine Learning), where she handles the planning and logistics for a class of 400-500 students.
- The role of TAs in MIT's large-scale courses is pivotal, as they guide students through complex content, support labs or project work, and handle logistical challenges.
- Balancing academic responsibilities with teaching duties is a difficult but rewarding challenge, requiring patience, adaptability, and a continuous effort for improvement.
- Soroush Araei, a sixth-year graduate student, and Hope Dargan, a second-year PhD student, are among the TAs who play vital roles in the department, demonstrating dedication to education, students, and their own personal growth.
- Dargan designs educational interventions for students struggling in class and was awarded the Goodwin Medal in 2023 for her teaching efforts.
- Araei finds the rewards for his work intrinsic, such as deepening his own understanding and witnessing the 'aha' moment on a student's face, but faces challenges in designing problem sets and selecting questions for office hours.
- Effective coordination and organization are key to the smooth running of these courses, with roles such as head TA, head undergraduate TA, and section leads ensuring that education and self-development are facilitated for the MIT EECS students.
