Graduate students pursuing advanced degrees, usually the Ph.D., are faculty-in-training. Part of their apprenticeship is to assist faculty members in teaching undergraduate courses. In the social sciences and humanities, they teach small discussion sections of large lecture classes. In the sciences, they teach the laboratories. In addition, experienced TA’s teach some sections of introductory calculus, foreign languages, and writing. With the exception of some writing courses, TA’s do not have authority for the design of self-standing courses.
Graduate students share with members of the faculty a love for their subject and a desire to contribute to its growth and dissemination. They know a lot about it and are eager to bring others into appreciation of its beauty. Having read hundreds of dossiers of TA’s nominated for distinguished teaching awards, we can say that they have enviable teaching skills. Further, they are close to undergraduates in age, experience, and knowledge of popular culture. Undergraduates often feel more comfortable talking over academic problems with TA’s than with faculty, and TA’s are often more immediately insightful about causes of difficulties than faculty members.