Occupation Details
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary
Assist faculty or other instructional staff in postsecondary institutions by performing instructional support activities, such as developing teaching materials, leading discussion groups, preparing and giving examinations, and grading examinations or papers.
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Interests
Social
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Conventional
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Work Values
Achievement
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$34,180.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$48,610.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$59,910.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
15,530
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
17,430
+190 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
1,697
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.1%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
More School - Graduate or advanced degree
Experience Requirements
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Education Requirements
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Training Details
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, clergy, physician assistants, and veterinarians.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Instructing
Teaching others how to do something.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Independence
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Leadership
Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Carousel slide projectors
- Compact digital cameras
- Compact disk CD players
- Computer data input scanners
- Computer laser printers
- Computer projectors
- Conference telephones
- Desktop computers
- Digital calculators
- Digital video cameras
- Digital video disk DVD players
- Handheld microphones
- Interactive whiteboard controllers
- Interactive whiteboards
- Laptop computers
- Laser facsimile machines
- Liquid crystal display LCD projectors
- Liquid crystal display LCD televisions
- MP3 digital voice recorders
- Microphone podiums
- Multi-line telephone systems
- Multimedia projection equipment
- Opaque projectors
- Overhead data projectors
- Photocopying equipment
- Poster printers
- Projector screens
- Student response systems
- Tablet computers
- Television monitors
Technology
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Blackboard Learn
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Collaborative editing software
- Course management system software
- DOC Cop
- Desire2Learn LMS software
- Email software
- Google Docs
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Image scanning software
- Learning management system LMS
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- communicate student progress
- make education presentations
- maintain educational records, reports, or files
- prepare educational reports
- evaluate student performance
- conduct field research or investigative studies
- conduct laboratory research or experiments
- use oral or written communication techniques
- use teaching techniques
- use public speaking techniques
- design classroom presentations
- collect academic research data
- record student progress
- use computers to enter, access or retrieve educational data
- convert information into instructional program
- develop instructional materials
- organize educational material or ideas
- teach college level courses
- teach individuals work-related techniques or skills
- develop course or training objectives
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Teach undergraduate-level courses.
- Evaluate and grade examinations, assignments, or papers, and record grades.
- Lead discussion sections, tutorials, or laboratory sections.
- Develop teaching materials, such as syllabi, visual aids, answer keys, supplementary notes, or course Web sites.
- Inform students of the procedures for completing and submitting class work, such as lab reports.
- Return assignments to students in accordance with established deadlines.
- Prepare or proctor examinations.
- Tutor or mentor students who need additional instruction.
- Complete laboratory projects prior to assigning them to students so that any needed modifications can be made.
- Demonstrate use of laboratory equipment and enforce laboratory rules.
- Provide assistance to faculty members or staff with laboratory or field research.
- Meet with supervisors to discuss students' grades or to complete required grade-related paperwork.
- Schedule and maintain regular office hours to meet with students.
- Order or obtain materials needed for classes.
- Attend lectures given by the supervising instructor.
- Copy and distribute classroom materials.
- Arrange for supervisors to conduct teaching observations and provide feedback about teaching performance.
- Provide instructors with assistance in the use of audiovisual equipment.
- Notify instructors of errors or problems with assignments.
- Assist faculty members or staff with student conferences.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Teachers-postsecondary
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
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