Looks like I’m definitely going to be a TA next semester! It’s exciting and a bit frightening at the same time. Both of my parents are retired teachers, so I’ve always been curious to do some teaching of my own. I really enjoy explaining biological concepts to people, and I feel like I’m good at telling what’s confusing people. I figure this will be great experience since I’ll probably have to do it in grad school, and hopefully I’ll love it like I think I would. Otherwise I may have to rethink my life goal of professor-dom. Or I can be one of those jerk professors who are all about research and begrudgingly teach classes, but that’s kind of sad.
The class is the Cell Structure and Function Laboratory. Hell yeah, doesn’t that sound fascinating? It’s the fall sophomore lab everyone is required to take. I didn’t want to teach the little freshmen who knew absolutely nothing, and this class was actually pretty good when I took it. It’s also not too mentally strenuous. Basically you set up your gel, sit around while your gel is running, and then interpret your gel. Oh, and a lot of stuff with hemoglobin and peroxidase isoenzymes. Exciting stuff.
I just hope I’m a good TA. I don’t want to be the jerk or the confused one who comes off as being really stupid. I want to be the cool TA, the one that actually remembers your name and jokes with you and is useful. Oi. And then the fear settles in that I’m being trusted with a new generation of scientists… As long as I don’t spill ethidium bromide all over them, I’m probably okay.
EtBr isn’t that dangerous… go ahead and lather ’em.
EtBr isn’t that dangerous… go ahead and lather ’em.
Eh, you don’t even have to remember names to be the cool one.
Eh, you don’t even have to remember names to be the cool one.
Yeah. You just have to give the appearance of remembering their name.
Yeah. You just have to give the appearance of remembering their name.
Best of luck. The teaching thing is a great gig.
Best of luck. The teaching thing is a great gig.
woo hoo! We can complain about our kids together!
=D
woo hoo! We can complain about our kids together!=D
As someone who’s is just a few years removed from my first shot at teaching, I can tell you that caring about being a good teacher makes a huge difference. It isn’t quite everything, but I’d take an inexperienced, eager teacher over one of those research types any day.
As someone who’s is just a few years removed from my first shot at teaching, I can tell you that caring about being a good teacher makes a huge difference. It isn’t quite everything, but I’d take an inexperienced, eager teacher over one of those research types any day.
I agree with Andre. Just walk up to them and look at a paper on their desk and read the name off of it. Then you’ll totally look like the cool one. Unless of course that is not their paper, then you’ll look like a dummy. =P !
For reals though, you’ll do great. Good luck.
I agree with Andre. Just walk up to them and look at a paper on their desk and read the name off of it. Then you’ll totally look like the cool one. Unless of course that is not their paper, then you’ll look like a dummy. =P !For reals though, you’ll do great. Good luck.