The Biological Science TA Society (BIOTAS) is a student organization created to offer support, services and professional development opportunities to OSU Graduate Teaching Associates from the Biological and Life Sciences. We are supported by The OSU College of Biological Sciences and the Office of Faculty and TA Development. Services we are developing include workshops, seminars, one-on-one TA mentoring and a collection of teaching materials and visual aids maintained by the Biology and Pharmacy Library.

To learn more about the mentoring program contact Hillary Walton.

To learn more about the visual aid collection, or donate materials to this collection,
contact Mark Branham.

Please send any other useful OSU or teaching-related links to me, Rob Day and I will add them to this site. You can also send your questions, ideas, thoughts, reactions or ruminations on your TA position. I will post them anonymously below. I may even turn the site into an "GTA FAQ". This website will remain active indefinitely so please bookmark it and check back from time to time to see what's new.

We are always looking for students to serve on our executive committee and volunteers to give small presentations or run workshops. If you are interested, please contact us via email.
 
 

General Resources and Sites of Educational Interest

Click here to see the BIOTAS constitution.

Interested in seeing how Instructional technology is used to teach biology at OSU Mansfield? Click here for details.

ASK BIOTAS a question about teaching at Ohio State or about our organization and we will (try to) send you an answer.

Alphabetical list of all web sites at OSU. A great way to find almost any office or department quickly.

OSU Office of Faculty and TA Development. The office that runs the TA mentor workshop and your first stop for all teaching related problems that you cannot solve in your department. FTAD online request for consultation services.

OSU College of Education. Why not team up with an education professional to help you develop your class or publish your educational research? Alternatively, develop your teaching portfolio by taking a pedagogy class.
Other handy OSU Sites:

Classroom Services
Office for Disability Services
University Technology Services
Office of the University Registrar
Office of International Education
University Bookstores
University Library System
OSU Introductory Biology program
Education Library. Add some educational journals to your reading (or publishing ?) list.
OSU Office of Academic Affairs. General information on OSU teaching policies.
 

Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education. A fantastic resource located right here on campus (1929 Kenny Rd.). ENC is a federally supported archive of educational materials. It is aimed mainly at K-12 educators but also has loads of useful postsecondary material ideal as a resource  for TAs. If you want educational materials, this is the place to go. The collection includes textbooks, CD-ROMs, Videotapes and other learning materials. All can be viewed and used on-site free of charge. ENC also has a state-of-the-art website with links to other educational resources and distributes resource-rich guidebooks full of teaching-related information and connections. Drop by and check it out.

For education news, misc. education links and other information gathered by ENC click here.
 

ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center). The local branch of ERIC. Located in the same building as ENC on Kenny Rd. Specializes in abstracts from education-related conferences and research. If you want to know more about educational research, this is the place to go. Vast numbers of links to other educational sites.
 

ERIC national home page. The national HQ of ERIC. A general source of information about education. Vast numbers of links to other educational sites
 

US Dept. of Education. Many more resources available from here.

Tips from Seasoned Grad Students  Dispelling the "If only I had known" syndrome.

Undergraduate study tips

Botany Links

Zoology Links

Educational Theory and Teaching Tips.

Who do I need to talk to to get anything done around here ?

The Mansfield campus has an outstanding teaching facility, the Plant Biology Multimedia Learning Center.  David Kramer, Asst. Prof of EEOB designed the room (with help from technical experts) and invites all biology grad students (and faculty) to visit the facility.

Plan to be on the campus long enough not only to see the room but to get some hands-on experience with the equipment.  Graduate students wanting to explore further the use of instructional technology can arrange for more time in repeat visits.  Knowing how to use instructional technology can be
an important point on your resume... many colleges are looking for faculty who can use this equipment.

Contact Dr. Kramer via e-mail or call 419-755-4344 (5-4344 from a campus phone) to arrange a time for your visit. Autumn Quarter '99 is especially good because PB101 is being taught at night and the room is mostly free during the day.  But your visit can be arranged almost any day of the week.  Please allow enough time, even in your first visit, to get hands-on experience (2-3 hours on the campus plus 1.5 hr driving time each way).  For more information and a printed description of the facility, contact Dr. Kramer.

You might also like to check out "From now on" ,an online educational technology journal.
 
 

Another TA writes...... I haven't taught anywhere before and this is my first experience.., at teaching. I am having mixed feelings.., sometimes I am enjoying it.., sometimes I am not very comfortable with it..., is it normal ?, or it depends on the personality? and some students are like..,when they see me outside the class.., they give me a big "hi" or smile.., but some of them simply shrug their shoulders even when I greet them.., how should I behave.., when I meet my students outside of the class...? and today I had a very different experience.., today there was a student who was really irritated b'cos he fell down in the lab., then his friends played with his chair, and at the end of the class.., I pointed out many mistakes in his report., and also told him, that he wasn't paying attention in the recitation class (I didn't use any harsh words.., or atleast I thought so, I didn't tell him anything in the recitation class either..., tried to pull his attention, then left him alone). At the end of the class.., he called me aloud.., as he was leaving..., and in the same tone.. said "piss off". I didn't take it seriously. I thought.., he was more infuriated by his friends behaviour than mine. But.., should I talk to the student abt this.., or what else could be the procedure to handle this kind of stuff.. Obviously I don't want to make a big deal of this.., Did you have any similar experiences...?