Head TF Resources

The role of Head Teaching Fellow in a larger lecture course can be one of the most rewarding ways for a graduate student to see how a more experienced instructor sets the tone for the course, prepares materials, and manages a teaching team. As Head TFs often are called upon to make policy decisions, improvise logistics, and referee differences of opinion among their peers and students alike, this role can be demanding.

The Bok Center is available to meet with Head TF/TAs to discuss course planning, classroom practice, teaching staff relationships, or challenges.

What to Discuss at Teaching Team Meetings

As a Head TF, it's important to be on the same page as your course head on who is responsible for what teaching duties. Who will update the Canvas site? Draft each problem set? Write the midterm? We recommend using our "What to Discuss at Teaching Team Meetings" list to guide the conversation and make sure that everyone is clear on their responsibilities.

A Semester-Long Head TF Timeline

Many Head TFs discover that their work changes throughout the term. We've developed a timeline/checklist that will help you think ahead and keep track of the many different logistical and pedagogical responsibilities that may be on your plate.

Download our Head TF timeline

Logistics of Being a Head TF

Depending on the course head, you may be in charge of various course logistics, like scheduling teaching team meetings, setting up observations, coordinating office hours, arranging rooms, coordinating rubrics, and helping norm grading across tasks and assignments.

Guidance on these features are linked below.

As a Head TF, you have a variety of responsibilities. This section aims to outline the different work you do in your role and provides reflection questions to help you approach your work.

Instructor

Though a Head TF appointment is distinct from the appointments held by other TFs, it is first and foremost a teaching appointment. With the course head, you inform decisions to achieve pedagogical and learning goals. As you navigate your various duties and relationships—with your course head, your fellow TFs, and your students, reflecting on how you approach your work, make decisions, and communicate can help you find balance between teaching and other responsibilities.

Project Manager

A large lecture course is complicated with many moving parts. Particularly large courses may feel more like two courses—a graduate seminar for the teaching staff embedded within an undergraduate course. How can you remain a couple of weeks ahead of your fellow instructors, anticipating needs or logistical challenges? Where will you turn for good data about how the course is running? How can you best support your course head, in a way that allows them to focus on their role in the course without encouraging them to “check out” on issues to which they ought to be attentive?

Advocate

When a student or colleague has some feedback for someone else in the course, how can you facilitate that conversation constructively? What will you do with a student’s concerns about their TF, the course head, or the course materials? If one of your TFs would benefit from additional resources or mentoring, how will you provide it? If you feel that something in the course could be improved, how will you make your voice heard? What is the best way to facilitate conversations around these kinds of feedback?

Mentor

As the Head TF, you strongly shape the experience of others on the teaching team and can help facilitate professional development. You are often the person who will be tasked with sharing teaching resources, feedback, and guidance. How will you work with the course head to provide your teaching team with training or resources that will contribute to their professional development and help you norm expectations within your course? Will you encourage teaching observations or shadowing for others on the team or for yourself? Will your teaching team to collect midterm feedback?

Learn more about teaching observations.

Learn more about collecting feedback.

Mediator

Unfortunately, disputes and differences of opinion do sometimes arise between students, between students and instructor(s), and even within teaching teams. As a general rule, the Head TF you should bring these difficulties to the course head promptly. If you are involved in mediating disagreements: How will you resolve disagreements in ways that are fair and efficient? How can you make such moments occasions for learning as well as mere conflict resolution?

Specifically, the Head TF’s may be tasked with helping students change sections or with organizing help or coverage for others on the teaching team when needed.