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This article is about teaching assistants in higher education. For teaching assistants in UK schools, see Teaching assistant (United Kingdom). A teaching assistant (TA) is a junior scholar employed on a temporary contract by a college or university in teaching related responsibilities. TA responsibilities vary greatly and may include: tutoring; holding office hours; grading homework or exams; assisting a professor with a large lecture class by teaching students in recitation, laboratory (in science and engineering courses), or discussion sessions; and even teaching their own classes. In some universities (such as the University of Michigan), they are known as Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs). In New Zealand, Australian, and some Canadian Universities they are known as tutors. At Harvard College they are known as Teaching Fellows (TFs). TAs include "graduate teaching assistants" (GTAs), which are graduate students, and "undergraduate teaching assistants" (UTAs), which are undergraduate students. While the term "assistant" implies that they assist with a class, in actuality, most (about two-thirds) GTAs serve as the sole instructor for one or more class each semester (Allred & Belnap, 2006; Butler et al., 1993; Gray & Buerkel-Rothfuss, 1991); although these GTAs may work under a supervisor or course coordinator, they have the responsibility to prepare and teach class, make and grade homework and quizzes, and even create and administer their own exams. Like professors, GTAs generally have a fixed salary determined by each contract period, usually an academic school year. UTAs usually serve as true assistants to a class; they typically have taken the course with which they are assisting, often with the same professor, and have performed well in it. This case is less common for GTAs, since many would have been undergraduates at other institutions. Unlike professors and GTAs, UTAs generally do not have a fixed salary but are either paid by the hour, earn credit hours, or volunteer their time. The term "Teaching Assistant" is used in the high school and middle school setting for students or adults that assist a teacher with one or more classes. The resposibilities, situations, and conditions of these individuals' involvement differ from those in higher education. A less formal position, a TA job in secondary education is generally determined by the supervising teacher. Common tasks include grading tests and papers, and taking attendance. Rarely, TAs in high school are allowed to participate in teaching students.
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