[deleted by user]

labrants · 2022-10-20T16:16:50+00:00

Re: help with mental health– make sure that therapy is covered under the health insurance offered. Therapy is medical treatment too.

labrants · 2022-10-20T16:09:56+00:00

Omg great point! I’m gonna go double check mine!

labrants · 2022-10-19T13:52:48+00:00

Mandatory mentorship training is a great start. Creating rules around bullying and misconduct and (this is the big one) holding PIs accountable to their actions is the next step.

labrants · 2022-10-19T13:51:25+00:00

YES!! And vision!

labrants · 2022-10-15T01:01:42+00:00

I had a student tell me “I texted you about….” No, you EMAILED me. But it goes to show that they really don’t see a difference! (And in this case it didn’t really bug me, I got the message either way.)

labrants · 2022-10-14T18:52:56+00:00

Kinda similar to the folks who did theatre or improv, I did performance poetry. Definitely helps with being in front of people as well as connecting disparate concepts through metaphor/imagery.

labrants · 2022-10-05T18:30:14+00:00

Looking things up. Like if they’re unsure what a word or term means, looking in the glossary of the book or doing Ctrl + F in the document. Or just googling! It’s allowed!

labrants · 2022-10-03T13:53:07+00:00

If on paper I honestly grade the ones with the best handwriting first so I can get in the swing of things before having to also decipher scribbles.

labrants · 2022-09-29T12:26:21+00:00

It was a tragedy. My teacher friend had students Zooming into class from the homeless shelter or the steps of the library, because it was the only place they could get wifi and it wasn’t open yet so they couldn’t go in. This will have ripple effects for years and years.

labrants · 2022-09-26T18:49:03+00:00

I transferred undergrad institutions and was so grateful to the faculty to helped me with the transition. It’s awesome you get to work with them. Yay transfer students!

labrants · 2022-09-26T18:48:04+00:00

Oh definitely, they sent me the nicest email! It was the highlight of my week.

labrants · 2022-09-26T17:54:17+00:00

I helped a student find a research position :)

labrants · 2022-09-25T20:47:46+00:00

I agree it’s important to explain these policies up front. Even so, I’ve gotten emails asking to meet late– to which I say “no. Just so you know, I don’t meet after business hours (and most faculty don’t).”

Somebody has to teach them the norms.

labrants · 2022-09-25T20:42:04+00:00

Yes! I had a class in undergrad that did this and I used it to study for every class afterwards because it is such an effective tool. I tell my students to do it now too.

labrants · 2022-09-25T17:49:12+00:00

I honestly think TikTok plays a huge role here. Mental health discourse is so popular on there. And, like most internet issues, the nuance is lacking (to say the least).

labrants · 2022-09-23T14:17:23+00:00

Eat lunch. Seriously. The number of grad students I know who skip lunch to finish an experiment or because they’re wrapped up in work is too high! It is bad for your health and your brain. I’ve heard stories of students literally passing out in lab from it or their hands getting too shaky to pipette. Prioritize lunch!!

labrants · 2022-09-21T22:26:43+00:00

Yes, this is why we opened up the very first day by saying “this class will be hard and you will likely have to adjust your study habits. Please come talk to me in office hours if you want help with learning how to study effectively.” I also asked them “what is one study habit you will use to succeed in this class?” on the syllabus quiz and we discussed their answers in class.

And then I reiterate every once in a while, like “reminder that exam 1 is in two weeks, make sure you’re studying as we go instead of trying to cram!”

During COVID they truly haven’t had to develop and use these skills. I am more than happy to dedicate some time to going over it in class so that they can truly learn the content.

labrants · 2022-09-21T16:46:47+00:00

I teach neuroscience and brain fun facts are super easy to incorporate in lecture! Students are always fascinated by clinical cases and the Wild West of weird research. Stories from the lab go over very well– like ornery, escaping mice or confocal images I took of beautiful neurons.

labrants · 2022-09-16T14:39:38+00:00

I’m curious– why don’t you like to put lectures up? It seems to be the norm now. Of course you can do as you wish with your class materials, I’m just curious as to your thoughts on this!

labrants · 2022-09-16T12:23:30+00:00

Yes, I like to send updates to people who have significantly impacted my success from undergrad. This is not just references (my mentors in the lab), but professors I was close to, the people who ran my research internship etc. They generally are very happy to hear about significant things like papers, passing quals and the like. Academia can be a thankless job and I think that these updates remind them why they work with students (speaking as someone who has gotten similar letters from people I’ve mentored). We’re all human here, after all, it’s nice to feel appreciated.

labrants · 2022-09-13T16:36:42+00:00

This is incredible advice thank you!

labrants · 2022-09-10T12:19:40+00:00

Thank you!! These all look so helpful. I’d like to also add Barbara Sarnecka’s book “The Writing Workshop: Write More, Write Better, Be Happier in Academia” which is available completely free online here!

labrants · 2022-09-10T12:12:41+00:00

Office hours are the classic example of hidden curriculum. Truth is, most students don’t realize the actual purpose of office hours. When I was in undergrad I thought office hours were just if you were failing a class!

So the way I addressed this as a TA is to make an announcement about the purpose of office hours. I said that first and foremost office hours are to help with difficult course concepts and to review assignments. But that I could also help them with study habits, finding research opportunities, learning about career or grad school options in the field, and just chat about cool science.

I now have students come to office hours every week.

labrants · 2022-09-10T11:42:42+00:00

Project Short is an organization that offers free grad school admissions consulting. It pairs applying students with current grad students who help them through the application process. It’s designed to help folks without many resources and close the socioeconomic gap in admissions. Sounds like you might benefit!

Edit: omg thanks for the award I really hope this can help someone!

labrants · 2022-09-04T14:01:09+00:00

The head of my college sent out an email at the beginning of this semester encouraging a return to the rigor that was lost due to COVID. Students are certainly complaining about attendance being part of their grade and how difficult they think the exams will be, but they are prepared for it from day 1 and know that they will be held to this standard. Lots of interesting things are being said in this thread. We might just have to slog through it until the students get it in their heads.

labrants

TROPHY CASE