Welcome

If you would thoroughly know anything, teach it to others.     ~Tryon Edwards (1809 - 1894)

As a mathematics graduate teaching assistant, you play a major role in the educational process, both for the university and for yourself.

For UCSD, you will participate in the instruction, advising, and evaluation of undergraduate students in mathematics courses. You open another avenue of information for students struggling with math. In many cases, you provide the human contact and personal motivation that can make the difference between success and failure for a student.

For yourself, being a TA is of paramount importance to your training as a professional mathematician. The history of mathematics is the constant interplay between the twin aspects of creating new mathematics (research) and sharing it with others (teaching). Indeed, teaching a subject never fails to enrich your understanding of it. (And isn't that what math is all about?!) Of course, TAing also allows you to accumulate valuable instructional training that will be as important in landing a job as your publication list.

Certainly, this is a big responsibility, and there are lots of ins and outs to being a successful TA here at UCSD Math. But fear not: this website is chock-full of information to make your life (as a TA) a little easier.



This page is maintained and updated by , the department's Head TA for the academic year; any questions, comments, and suggestions should be directed to . The comic above is, of course, Calvin and Hobbes, by the great Bill Watterson. Also we are very grateful to Travis Kowalski for creating the original website.