Mechanical Engineering 154 - Introduction to Mechatronics
This position and job description is subject to change without notice by the University of California, the Department, or the Faculty.
This position and job description is based on a 10 hour per week position.
Course Information
Lecture: 2 hours per week
Lab: 3 hours per week
Usual number of TA's: 1 per quarter
Requirements
Graduate student with a degree in mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering. Must have taken the course or equivalent. Preference will be given to those who apply by March 15 for the following academic year. All domestic applicants applying to the MAE Graduate Program, with a GPA of 3.5 and above, will automatically be considered for this position.
General Tasks and Responsibilities
Note: These are estimates for planning purposes. Actual schedules and totals will vary.
Weekly Tasks - hours per week
Provide consulting for student computer projects: 9
Quarterly Tasks - hours per quarter
Attend pre-class planning meetings: 2
Test computer programs and other software; run two discussion sessions: 8
Average total hours per week (estimate)
[Weekly total + (quarterly total/10)]: 10
Supervision: Faculty in charge
Person(s) responsible: Faculty in charge
Description of procedures and policies
The faculty member teaching the course is the primary supervisor of all TA's. Problems, concerns, suggestions, or questions about all course aspects or policies-content material or references, grading practices, individual student needs, make-up policy, etc. should be directed to the faculty member in charge. TA should understand all course materials and enough knowledge and skills necessary to carry out the job functions described below.
Job Functions in General
TA should attend all meetings related to the classes and labs.
TA should provide services for the labs (or class demonstration) and office hour by following the directions given by the instructor. Services include:
- making sure that a classroom for the lab is ready to use
- preparing all necessary audiovisual instruction aids
- preparing and distributing handouts
- preparing and performing demonstrations necessary for the classes and labs
- run the labs assigned by following the procedures and directions given by the instructor
- helping students by answering the questions and giving advice
- attending classes and discussion sections when the instructor asks the TA to do so and provide the instructor with necessary assistance in the classes and discussion sections.
TA Announces the lab and homework assignments in the lab and collects, grade, and record the lab assignments, homework and projects submitted. Collection of the lab assignments should be performed at the end of each lab. Collection of the homework of the previous week should be collected at the beginning of the Lab. The collection of the project should be performed at the designated time specified by the instructor. Upon grading, each problem should be signed by TA who graded such that the students can easily identify who is the grader. When recording the grades, the specific format specified by the instructor should be used. For recording, EXCEL 97 or newer software should be used for recording grades, etc.
TA should submit the records of the grades to the instructor when the quarter ends or when the instructor requests the records.
TA should make the master solution of lab assignments, homework, and exams and make available for the students through "NAVINS" after 4:00 p.m. of every Friday.
TA serves as proctor during exams; and grades the exam. TA should sign each problem graded for identifying who is the grader.
For In-classes: Preparation for the lab
TA should attend all meetings related to the classes and labs.
TA should provide services as in-class assistant for the classes and office hours under the directions given by the instructor of the course. The services include:
- making sure that a classroom is ready to use
- preparing all necessary audio-visual instruction aids
- preparing and distributing handouts
- preparing and perform demonstrations in the class
- attending all classes and discussion sections when the instructor gives lecture and provide the instructor with necessary assistance in the classes and discussion sections
- run the labs assigned by following the procedures and directions given by the instructor
- helping students by answering the questions and giving advice
TA should be familiar with the operation of audiovisual system in the lecture room and the location of audiovisual service in Olson Hall.
TA should show up in the office of the instructor at designated time on every lab days to receive the necessary materials for the lab.
Management of Master File
TA should manage a master file of all handouts, homework assignments, exams, and master solutions.
Management of Homepage
TA should create the course homepage and keep updated by posting the handouts and related materials of the week. The home page should have the pages, which can only be accessed by registered students with password assigned to each student and each TA. The home page should have the pages, which can only be accessed by the TA with password. The student home page should post all handouts in the class and any important announcement. All handout postings should be inactivated after one-week posting period. TA home page should have the master solution and grading criteria for labs, homework's and projects.
Management of Exam and Master Grading Record
TA should serve as proctor of exams; and should grade the exam. The TA for identifying who is the grader should sign each problem graded.
TA should be a leader of the meetings for grading exams and projects.
TA should make a master grading record file by collecting all TA's graded results and submit to the instructor.
Each TA should submit the records of the grades to the instructor when the quarter ends or when the instructor requests the records.
For Projects
TA should understand course materials and enough knowledge and skills necessary to carry out the job functions described below.
TA should attend the all meetings related classes and labs.
TA should serve the activities to organize the project as project manager under the direction of the instructor of the course. The services include:
- preparing the target system for the project
- disassembling and assembling the target system
- keeping track of the record of parts distribution to the students
- demonstrating the example
- managing the project progress
- assembling the software model and physical system of the target system by receiving the parts and work by students
- helping students by answering the questions and giving advice
TA should be familiar with the operation of audiovisual system in the room used to conduct labs and the location of audiovisual service in Olson Hall.
TA should show up in the office of the instructor at the designated time on every lecture day to discuss the status of the project preparation and management.
Methods, Times and Procedures of Evaluation
All TA's will be evaluated during their last discussion section of the quarter using the departmental student survey form. The faculty member in charge will also evaluate in writing all TA's at the end of the quarter. Student evaluations will be made available for TA review in a reasonable amount of time.
Special Circumstances
TA's for this course are expected to enroll in MAE-396 (Teaching Assistant Training Practicum), which meets one hour per week.