Int_BT_2019 Teaching Assistant Registration Form

Introduction

The H3ABioNet 16S rRNA Microbiome Intermediate Bioinformatics course will provide training to enable participants to gain the knowledge and skills to perform 16S rRNA microbiome data analyses using a variety of bioinformatics methods and tools.

As a teaching assistant (TA), you will form an integral part of the Int_BT_2019 course. You will be the eyes and ears in the physical classrooms; the liaison between the module trainers and the participants as well as between the project coordinator and the participants. You will provide additional academic support to the participants during the lecture and practical sessions and you will ensure that all the logistics for your classroom are running smoothly.

It's a big responsibility, but with great responsibility comes great reward, and what greater reward than contributing to bioinformatics capacity building in Africa! You will, of course, be acknowledged for your role in this course.

Please help us to help you by filling in the form below so that we may be aware of how best to support you and your classroom throughout the course.

Looking forward to working with you!

Int_BT core team

Commitments

The Int_BT core team's commitments to you, the TA, are as follows -

We are committed to:

• provide staff training, for TAs and system administrators (the 'staff team'), before the course begins.
• provide support for, and tutorials on, the Adobe connect conferencing system, to ensure that your classroom is able to connect to the virtual Adobe classroom.
• provide a tutorial on the course management website, Vula, and enrol you on the website.
• provide you with the lecture material and practical assignment instructions, including any software requirements and a memorandum, before each lecture/practical session.
• support your classroom as best we can with challenges (logistic or other) that arise at any time during the course.
• keep you informed about the modules and trainers, on a weekly basis, for each module of the course as well as any changes to the course logistics, content etc.
• grade participants' assessments, for each module, using Vula's grading tool and keep track of assignments submitted for each participant. This information will be kept confidential for each participant.
• provide guidance on how to create a community atmosphere amongst classrooms and staff across Africa.

In turn, we ask certain commitments from you, too. Below we outline what is generally required of you as a TA:

1. Attend an adobe connect testing session before the course begins to ensure that your classroom can connect to adobe connect.
2. Attend a 2 day staff training workshop before the course (i.e. before the participants start on 03 September) - this 2 day training is compulsory for all Int_BT staff and will likely run during the last week of August 2019.
3. Be familiar with the course management website, Vula (you will receive training)
4. Ensure your attendance at contact sessions that you have committed to assisting with (e.g. specific modules, or all modules - each classroom staff team will create a teaching assistant schedule)
5. Record the attendance of each participant at each contact session and update this information in a google spreadsheet for your classroom each week (the project coordinator will create this document and share it will you via google drive) and follow up with participants who have not been attending contact sessions or have not submitted assessments
6. Relay questions from participants in your classroom to the trainer during lectures and practical sessions via adobe connect and assist participants with practical assignments during practical sessions should they ask for help (use this as a teaching opportunity, don't just give them the answer from the memo ;))
7. Answer questions posted by participants to the Vula site's 'question and answer' page, if you know the answer
8. Keep the Int_BT core team up to date with any challenges (logistic or other) that your classroom, participants or teaching assistants are facing at any point during the course
9. Endeavour to create a real classroom atmosphere and to create a sense of community amongst classrooms across Africa
10. Endeavour to engage with your fellow staff members at other classrooms sites via Vula

To view the above information as well as additional information please follow the following link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XjJWvKFygOED6VvPDqxNlUlAggxPDA2z/view?usp=sharing

Disclaimer: Please note that by signing up and completing the TA application you automatically consent to the above requirements and conditions, unless prior arrangements have been agreed to by the Int_BT staff. The instructions in this form will be made available to all Int_BT staff via the course management platform, Vula. Your answers, however, will only be shared with your local team for logistics purposes. Instructions for how to access Vula will be sent after this form has been submitted. There is no cost associated with hosting a classroom for Int_BT_2019. Further, attendance for participants and volunteer staff must be completely free-of-charge. If classrooms have running costs, they need to find alternate ways to cover these costs.

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