Seminar TA Training

Welcome to The Data Mine Seminar Course!

We are excited to have you onboard as a Seminar TA for The Data Mine next year!

This is gonna be a long read, so try to find a bit of focused time to understand all this (fun!) information.

On August 9, 2023, you will be added to a Gradescope page to submit proof of your training. It will consist of a couple short quizzes to ensure that you have read this training material, course syllabus, and are ready for next semester.

All quizzes would be due in Gradescope on August 16, 2023, at 11:59 PM.

Proof of FERPA training is also due in Gradescope on August 16, 2023, at 11:59 PM. (More about FERPA training in Module 2)

TA Training - Readings

Please complete the readings in the following modules:

TA Responsibility Overview

TAs are a key part of success in The Data Mine. Your constant support in seminars, grading, and office hours keeps the courses running smoothly.

The Seminar TA position consists of three roles: Student-facing, Grader, or Hybrid TAs.

Student-facing TAs

Student-facing TAs are responsible for holding office hours and helping students with their projects.

Grader TAs

Grader TAs are responsible for grading student projects and providing feedback.

Hybrid TAs

Hybrid TAs are responsible for both student-facing and grading responsibilities. Next semester, only 301 TAs are hybrid.

All TAs should review the upcoming week’s projects and solutions to be best prepared to assist students.

You can find a detailed calendar for next semester’s weekly project schedule here.

Set up your GitHub Account

Please ensure you have a GitHub account made with your @purdue.edu email address.

Please share your GitHub usernames here to get access to TDM Project Repositories.*

Seminar TAs are required to submit their hours to SuccessFactor by Sunday evenings at 11:59 PM.

Monday Seminar

Each Monday Dr. Ward hosts seminar sessions for all students in the Data Mine to attend. These sessions are held in Hillenbrand Dining Court’s atrium.

The seminar times for Fall 2023 are:

  • 8:30-9:30 AM

  • 9:30-10:30 AM

  • 10:30 -11:30 AM

  • 4:30-5:30 PM (Virtual)

For the first 4 weeks of the semester, we need a few TAs (at least four for 101, two for 201, and one for 301) in each of the seminar times.

Attending seminar counts towards your required office hours.

Office Hours

Graders can skip over the office hours section and go to the Grading section.

TAs will choose their office hour times and will be expected to hold their scheduled office hours consistently each week.

We definitely need lots of help on Thursday and Friday. Evenings are much appreciated because we have students all over the world who will need help. Friday evenings are prime time, and we permit more than one TA working at a time then.

Please keep track of how many students come to each of your office hours during the first 3 weeks of the semester. We will reshuffle a bit based on popular times after the first 4 weeks, if needed.

  • Office hours before 5:00 PM EST: Hillenbrand Hall Lobby C100

  • Office hours after 5:00 PM EST: Online in Zoom

  • Office hours on the weekend: Online in Zoom

Your online Zoom meeting room should always be ON during in-person office hours

The staff will randomly join office hour meetings to make sure this is being followed.

Set up your Zoom meeting room

All TAs should use their official Purdue Zoom meeting room to hold your office hours. Go to purdue-edu.zoom.us/ and log in with your Purdue credentials to setup your account.

Please share the link for your Personal Zoom meeting room here.

Choose your time

When choosing your office hour time slot(s), please consider your own schedule and conflicts such as classes.

We encourage all TAs to hold office hours that impact the most students - you should aim to help as many students as you can.

Your help during office hours could change a student’s day, week, month, or semester!

On August 17, you will be sent another email in which you will find a link to a spreadsheet to choose your weekly office hours time.

Unable to host office hours

If for a certain day you are unable to hold office hours, please post an instructor note in Piazza at least 48 hours before to all the students and message the Head TA on Teams.

If it is an emergency and you are unable to do the above in time, please post a instructor note and message the Head TA on Teams as soon as you can.

How to Get Paid

Seminar TAs can submit up to 10 hours a week.

International students can work a maximum 20 hours across all jobs.

Look forward to

  1. Complete the Syllabus and Academic Integrity Quizzes in Gradescope by 11:59 PM, Aug 16.

  2. Submit proof of FERPA training in Gradescope by 11:59 PM, Aug 16.

  3. Submit your Github username and Zoom meeting room link.

  4. Confirm which manadatory orientation session you would like to attend.

  5. Verify you’re a part of the TA Teams channel.

  6. Look out Aug 17 email to schedule office hours.

Please send any questions to your Head TA via Teams/Email, post in Seminar TA Teams Channel, or email datamine-help@purdue.edu.

We look forward to have you onboard as a TA with us this semester!