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Learning & Teaching Innovation

Primary TA responsibilities

Being a TA means balancing a range of responsibilities — supporting students, coordinating with your instructor and managing course logistics. Knowing how to allocate your time across class meetings, labs or tutorials, office hours, preparation and grading can help you feel on top of your workload and confident in the role.

Understanding the course

A strong grasp of the course context will guide everything you do as a TA. Early on, aim to develop a clear picture of the course goals, structure, and student cohort. This includes understanding the learning objectives, the level and background of the students and how the course is organized.

It is also worth clarifying how the teaching team is structured: who the other TAs are, how responsibilities are shared and what is expected of you before the first class. Confirming whether you are needed at the first session, what to do if you can’t make a scheduled one, will help you start the term off well.

Communication and collaboration

Effective communication is central to your role. Early on, it helps to clarify with your supervisor how often you will meet and the best ways to stay in touch, whether by email, meetings, or online platforms.

Understanding how communication flows across the broader teaching team is equally valuable. Knowing how to coordinate with other TAs supports consistency in I grading, messaging, and student support.

Course materials and resources

As a TA, you are often a key resource for students, so familiarity with course materials matters. It is worth knowing how to access required texts such as textbooks or lab manuals and clarifying with your supervisor whether you are responsible for managing or distributing materials.

If the course uses an online platform, like Brightspace, it helps to understand how it will be used and what your role is in maintaining or supporting it, including who to contact if technical issues arise, so you can quickly assist students when needed.

Teaching and student support

Your responsibilities during class time will vary depending on the course, but may include leading discussions, assisting with activities or supporting labs and tutorials. Clarify how often you are expected to attend and what your role will be in those sessions.

Outside of class, student support often continues through office hours or review sessions. Confirm whether you are expected to hold office hours, how frequently and how they should be structured. Understanding how your role complements the instructor’s office hours will help ensure students receive consistent and accessible support.

Planning your workload

One of the most important aspects of being a TA is managing your time effectively. Responsibilities such as preparation, grading and student communication can vary widely throughout the term. By identifying priorities early and maintaining open communication with your supervisor, you can adapt your workload as needed while staying within expected time commitments.