PyCon/2014

Translate: "Tutorial Assistants"

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Tutorial Assistants (TAs) are volunteers that help students learn by removing
roadblocks from their learning such as setup issues, or by offering one on one
help during exercises where's it's impractical for an instructor to answer
questions from everyone in the tutorial.

What Does a TA Do?

  • As a TA your primary purpose is to help students. Your secondary purpose may
    be to learn from the instructor, but don't let it interfere with your primary
    purpose. Don't bring a laptop, take a spot at a table, or take a handout. Do
    listen and learn when you're not helping.
  • Help with diagnosing platform-specific problems on a platform the instructor
    doesn't know or use.
  • Give general Python help with exercises for students that are relatively new
    to Python.
  • Give subject-specific help with exercises where you have expertise in the
    tools or concepts being taught.
  • Try to be visible to students who need help, but invisible to the instructor
    and not distract from their teaching.
  • By default, don't ask questions and don't correct the instructor, unless
    they've said they want that. They'd love to hear your feedback after the
    tutorial, but during a tutorial it may interfere with their teaching.
  • Ask the instructor how else you can help.
  • Enjoy your experience! Assisting in a tutorial is a very rewarding
    experience, helping participants get unstuck, seeing their ah-hah moments, and
    getting to know them. In large tutorials teachers can't make connections with
    very many students - but you can with a few.
  • Help people new to PyCon feel welcome. Reach out to wallflowers during
    breaks.
  • Join us for the catered snacks and lunch on us.

How Do I Volunteer?

  • Add an entry to the table below. Indicate the slots for which you're
    available, and list your expertise areas so we know where you're best suited
    to help. This information will be shared with Instructors who are looking for
    more TAs.

    Note: Also consider signing up as a Host / Greeting at the start of tutorials:
    Tutorial Host Signup

  • Show up at the Tutorial Preparation
    Sessions
    to meet
    instructors, get last minute assignments to assist in tutorials, and help
    tutorial participants with laptop setup.

  • Show up during the Tutorial days to offer ad hoc Tutorial
    Support
    .

TA Volunteers

Enter your availability:

Wed a.m. Wed p.m. Thu a.m. Thu p.m. Contact Info (include your name) Expertise and Notes
yes yes no no crg.mabrey@gmail.com 1 year of python, matplotlib and some Django
no yes no yes Will Farley webpowerlabs@gmail.com 1 year python, primarily Django, reading 2 scoops ;)
no no no yes Senthil Kumaran senthil@uthcode.com Few years of Python development. Been a tutorial instructor at previous pycons.
yes yes yes yes Ramya Narayanaswamy nramya@udel.edu 1 year of Python
yes yes yes yes Luiz Irber luiz.irber@gmail.com 7 years of Python, HPC, SciPy stack
yes yes yes no Maxim Brieiev lacrima.maxim@gmail.com 4 years of Python. Linux, Twisted. Can help with setting up dev environment.

How Do I Get Picked?

Wait to be contacted by Instructors. They may ask questions to be sure you'd be
a good match for their tutorial.

If you don't hear ahead of time, show up at the Tutorial Support sessions or on
Tutorial Days to help out.

If you get an assignment, edit your availability in the table above or remove
your name entirely.