Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary
Assist faculty or other instructional staff in postsecondary institutions by performing instructional support activities, such as developing teaching materials, leading discussion groups, preparing and giving examinations, and grading examinations or papers.
Technology Tools
Key Tasks
- Teach undergraduate-level courses.
- Evaluate and grade examinations, assignments, or papers, and record grades.
- Lead discussion sections, tutorials, or laboratory sections.
- Develop teaching materials, such as syllabi, visual aids, answer keys, supplementary notes, or course Web sites.
- Inform students of the procedures for completing and submitting class work, such as lab reports.
- Return assignments to students in accordance with established deadlines.
- Prepare or proctor examinations.
- Tutor or mentor students who need additional instruction.
- Complete laboratory projects prior to assigning them to students so that any needed modifications can be made.
- Provide assistance to faculty members or staff with laboratory or field research.
- Demonstrate use of laboratory equipment and enforce laboratory rules.
- Meet with supervisors to discuss students' grades or to complete required grade-related paperwork.
- Schedule and maintain regular office hours to meet with students.
- Attend lectures given by the supervising instructor.
- Order or obtain materials needed for classes.
- Copy and distribute classroom materials.
- Arrange for supervisors to conduct teaching observations and provide feedback about teaching performance.
- Provide instructors with assistance in the use of audiovisual equipment.
- Notify instructors of errors or problems with assignments.
- Assist faculty members or staff with student conferences.
- Correspond with students through email to address their questions and concerns.
Skills
Knowledge
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Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
94%
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
91%
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
90%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
80%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
79%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
76%
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
74%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
72%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
69%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
67%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
65%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
62%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
61%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
60%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
49%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
48%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
47%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
43%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
40%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
39%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
37%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
37%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
37%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
35%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
34%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
33%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
33%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
32%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
32%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
30%
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
30%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
26%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
23%
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
22%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
19%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
19%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
15%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
15%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
8%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
6%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
6%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
6%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
5%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
5%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
5%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
4%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
4%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
3%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
3%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
3%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
3%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
3%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
3%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
2%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
1%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
1%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
0%
Education
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Doctoral degree
Interests
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Work Styles
Work Values
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