The Value of the Teaching Assistant

The value Teaching Assistant of the

Basel Nabulsi

It’s an often-overlooked fact, but the academic life of undergraduate engineering students can be significantly enhanced through the effective use of Teaching Assistants (TAs). TAs are typically graduate students whose main role is to support the professor—but the support they provide to undergraduates is equally important.

TAs fulfill a wide range of duties. By leading personalized, small-group interactions, they complement the lectures delivered to large classes by professors. They help evaluate assignments. They bridge, and sometimes buffer, the relationship between student and professor.

While studying for his PhD in Electrical Engineering, Basel Nabulsi (see Basel’s profile on page 6), assisted many undergrads as a TA. It’s a role he embraced whole-heartedly.

“The enthusiasm of first-year students who are eager to learn gives me

so much joy and pleasure,” says Basel, who has since found work in industry in Kanata.

Basel’s enthusiasm as a TA mirrors some of his students’ regard for him. Olivia Zupet, a third-year Computing Engineering student, benefitted from Basel’s teaching in first year.

“Basel taught me in APSCI142, the only first-year computer course, with so much knowledge and passion that I changed my major from Chemical Engineering to Computing,” says Olivia.

Olivia says Basel went above and beyond his duty by spending extra time with students, both outside the classroom and after office hours.

Joshua Ardunini echoes Olivia’s sentiment. The second-year Electrical Engineering student describes Basel as an excellent TA who exceeds expectations.

“Because he’s fairly close to us in age and has already been an undergrad, it was easy to relate to him,” says Joshua. “He has the communication and social skills to talk to us in a way that’s understandable and not at all threatening.”

The TA can communicate student feedback to the professor and help resolve conflicts or misunderstandings between student and professor. Hence, the TA’s direct understanding of the undergrad experience goes a long way to smoothing over potential tensions that may arise.

Basel also reaped rewards from the TA experience. In addition to receiving a modest income, he gained invaluable teaching experience that will serve him well in his career. Just as importantly, he discovered more about the subject he was teaching by seeing it through the eyes of an undergrad.

“I find myself learning from students as much as I get to teach them,” says Basel.

Teaching Assistant

“Basel taught me in APSCI142, the only first-year computer course, with so much knowledge and passion that I changed my major from ” Chemical Engineering to Computing. —Olivia Zupet

“He has the communication and social skills to talk to us in a ” way that’s understandable and not at all threatening. —Joshua Ardunini