Experience as TA for Mechanics Design

I served as a Teaching Assistant for ME170, earning an A grade in the course. ME170 covers content that closely aligns with the material in this course, making me well-prepared to contribute effectively.

During my tenure as a TA for ME170, students were organized into groups of four, exploring innovative design concepts aimed at enhancing our daily lives, regardless of the scale of impact. Throughout the course, I guided them in creating CAD designs, analyzing the feasibility of production and customer utilization, and supporting the actualization of their ideas. The professor teaching this course became one of my recommenders when I applied for graduate school. My relationships with the students extended beyond the course, as they continued to share their designs, coursework and concerns about their study life with me. These experiences honed my ability to effectively communicate complex concepts and fostered enduring connections with students.

Due to the pandemic, my role as a Teaching Assistant (TA) shifted to an online format for a semester.

In my role as a TA for ME170, my primary duties included assisting the teacher in grading assignments and organizing experimental classes. Due to the pandemic, we didn't have the opportunity to meet the teacher in person; we started working directly after an initial online meeting. At the beginning of the semester, the teacher organized a meeting via Webex to introduce our roles. This marked my first experience with Webex, and I fumbled with adjusting video and audio settings -- Actively respond without turning on the microphone! T-T

Previously, in physical classrooms, TAs would move among rows of computers, addressing student queries as they arose. Students would raise their hands when they had questions about their operations, and we would provide on-the-spot assistance. In the online setting, I found myself facing a screen, with classmates sometimes being silent. During these quiet moments, I would navigate back and forth between a WeChat group and assignment requirements, occasionally even succumbing to the temptation to work on my math homework.

I attempted to use the virtual meeting room twice initially, but it was chaotic, with unclear roles and voices overlapping. I often found myself wondering if a question was directed at me or another TA. Mutually mute functions for students who forgot to turn off their microphones were not an option; only the presenter or host could remotely control operations, making it essential to promptly silence participants who forgot to mute themselves.

A language barrier presented a challenge, as students used a Chinese version of software, while I had the English version. This led to questions like, "What does *** mean?" or "Is this it?" The translations provided by the software were sometimes overly literal or free interpretations, causing confusion.

To foster a more engaging question-and-answer experience, I took inspiration from an online class teacher who used a rabbit doll as a listener to speak to, like “replacing students with bunny dolls”. I replicated this concept, creating a virtual classroom environment with rows of "computer-like" objects and adding a meme on the edge. The addition of that meme added engagement to my virtual teaching, and it's soooo helpful!!

Grading assignments took longer online, as I needed to provide detailed feedback in English. Some students struggled with English, making homework corrections more complex. Interestingly, I learned to save graded assignments using the computer's built-in sticky notes for quick reference when classmates had questions.

Online collaboration presented challenges. Some students seemed less motivated, especially in the context of group activities. Previously, we'd reserve discussion rooms for group discussions, freely using whiteboards to brainstorm and strategize. Now, online discussions lacked the same effectiveness. Some students procrastinated or pretended not to notice group messages. It's a suffer for everyone. But we fight it through!