If you have clicked on this article then you are likely considering applying for the role of a teaching assistant at a university or are at least intrigued by the opportunity.
The role of a teaching assistant is one that might appeal to a wide variety of students. Typically a teaching assistant contract will last for one academic year or 10 months. Some contracts might extend to last for two years.
With this relatively short term contract, the position might be favourable to students who have recently graduated with an undergraduate or postgraduate degree and are not entirely sure what they would like to do for their career.
Students often select this career path as a means of improving their prospects of securing funding for their Phd or strengthening their application.
On the other hand, the role most commonly attracts students with a knack for educating and a long term interest in becoming a lecturer at a third level institution.
Whatever your situation is or aspirations are, the role will afford you many of the vital skills required for almost any role in the ever-evolving workplace. You can bet that your organisation skills will be tested in this role and your communication skills will improve drastically!
In this article, I will explore the role of a teaching assistant. I will cover some of the things that a university might look for when employing graduates for the role, what your duties might look like on a day-to-day basis and the career prospects that might open for you once you finish your contract with the university.
Desired Skills and Competencies of a Teaching Assistant
When trying to determine whether or not you might be suitable for a role as a teaching assistant at a third level institution, it might help if you first consult the job descriptor at any of the universities that you are interested in teaching at.
A vital component of the academic community at the university is the teaching staff. Your preferred may be in the process of hiring Teaching Assistants to be assigned to BA programs that the School instructs.
Under the supervision of the academics who are in charge of the programs overall, teaching assistants will work. The role's objective is to offer assistance with the planning, evaluation, and delivery of instruction within the program.
This position presents a compelling chance for professional growth while working in a creative and encouraging atmosphere.
The typical tenure of a Teaching Assistant is two academic years at most. Nevertheless, there are frequently fascinating opportunities that arise after work, such as the position of assistant professor.
Before you go about looking for work as a teacher or any role in education then you might want to look at a few different avenues into education that exist in Ireland
You might want to get into teaching and explore routes into primary school teaching. If this is the case then after you take a look at the teaching council garda vetting requirements by searching ‘ teaching council vetting’.
If you have managed to secure a job as a teaching assistant at a university then you will have been afforded a great opportunity to propel your career in education and add some valuable experience to your resume while you work.
The role of a teaching assistant is one that will help you to develop many of the teaching skills that are needed to teach on a university course while you work.
Check out this guide to becoming an educator in Ireland.
What might your day as a teaching assistant look like?
The Teaching Assistant will offer the following assistance in preparation for and delivery of lectures, tutorials, seminars, discussion groups, skills workshops, etc. as directed by the faculty member.
By offering specialized skill training, you will also be given some latitude to contribute to the way the School teaches. This is a fantastic chance to advance both your topic knowledge and your teaching abilities.
You can also be asked to help the module organizer give students comments on their tasks. This gives teaching assistants the chance to reveal the procedures that support student evaluation and the management of a module inside a college.
You might also want to note that your contract as a teaching assistant will likely run for some months after the completion of the typical students’ academic calendar. This is due to the role’s extension to include some correction obligations.
You will be expected to organize and mark assessments as a teaching assistant under the supervision of a faculty member who has primary responsibility for marking.
Many universities provide additional grading incentives, meaning all that time that you spend correcting will compound into some financial compensation for your efforts.
In accordance with the needs of the School or Program, you will also be expected to manage any additional administrative tasks related to teaching and supervision.
When it comes to figuring out what sort of qualifications you might need to be considered for the role as a teaching assistant.
Successful applicants for the teaching assistant position will frequently have a primary degree (Level 8) or equivalent in a relevant discipline, will ideally have postgraduate training, and will possess the necessary knowledge of the discipline to contribute to the delivery of the School's undergraduate program.
They must be motivated to contribute to the efficient operation of the School, possess strong interpersonal and communication skills, and be engaged in students' academic progress. The chosen applicant must possess the technological expertise to facilitate online education.
Take the next step in your teaching education and become a primary school teacher.
The opportunities that arise from being a teaching assistant
Depending on the subjects that you decide to specialise in and the connections that you have in your preferred university, you will likely need to do quite a bit more than simply completing a phd if you have aspirations of becoming a lecturer.
Many students that have an interest in teaching at university will first have to gain some valuable experience working as a teaching assistant. The teaching assistant position is a great opportunity for graduates to see if a career in teaching is for them.
This will be time well spent in the grand scope of your career and professional development. Not only will you improve your skills as a teacher and familiarise yourself with the course content in your chosen field, but you will leave your contract knowing whether or not you wish to pursue a career in education.
You will be presented with the opportunity to conduct your own tutorial classes for college as you wish and really step into your role as an educator.
If by the end of your contract, you find that you get a great sense of enjoyment and fulfilment from your work, you might choose to pursue the next step and apply to become an assistant professor.
This role will afford you greater responsibilities and opportunities in your role as an educator at a third level institution. You will have the opportunity to lecture your own classes. While you typically won’t be teaching exam year students, you will be lecturing bigger class sizes than you might have in your role as a teaching assistant.
Get a job as a lecturer on a third level course at university and begin teaching students across multiple courses.
Offer your services as a teacher on Superprof
If you ask most past teaching assistants, they will probably tell you that they wish that there was something like Superprof around when they first started out teaching.
Students who are interested in acquiring new talents can find everything they need at Superprof. When you graduate from the aforementioned universities with your degree, this is an excellent venue to market and teach.
With the relatively flexible timetable that comes with being a teaching assistant, you could certainly consider attaining a second stream of income and start offering tutoring service to college students in your free time.
These classes can either be taught in-person or virtually using the platform's camera. This is typically advantageous for people who balance a second job or tutoring with their academic responsibilities.
The portal offers affordable, user-friendly assistance for third-level courses. Look no further than Superprof if you've been trying to decide where to provide teaching sessions in Ireland.
You would be surprised at how much you can learn from the other teaching assistants at work, the students that you teach at university and the teacher that you work alongside during your time at the university.
They will be able to help you with the work that you face at work, save some valuable time with your tasks, and gain experience teaching the course. This is a great first job in education that will kickstart your learning as a teacher. Not to mention that the job is also quite well paid! What’s not to like?
Make sure to emphasise to your students that availing of a private tutor can save them some time while providing the much-needed direction they need to prepare for their upcoming exams.
If you seek support in where to take the next step in your teaching career or in becoming a teacher to students at any level then searching ‘career change Ireland’, ‘garda vetting for teachers and teacher garda vetting’ can be a good place to start.
Secondary school teaching offers great careers in teaching, many schools need a teacher with skills at the moment in Ireland!
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