As Ohio University teaching assistants’ cascade into the spring semester, some may adventure outdoors while others experiment in laboratories. Despite their diverse interests, each TA hopes to accomplish a common goal: to cultivate curiosity.
According to the Institutional Effectiveness and Analytics department, there are 637 TAs enrolled for Spring Semester 2025. The Center for Teaching, Learning and Assessment strives to support each OU faculty member, regardless of their level of experience. With access to beneficial resources and programs, both professors and TAs are encouraged to create a “student-centered” and “inclusive” classroom setting.
Fostering a positive learning environment is vital for a student's engagement and several TAs discovered a passion for education after taking an insightful course. Ella Tinney, a junior studying exercise physiology, said it was because of the lessons and skills learned in her anatomy class that she wanted to apply for the course’s TA position.
“It was definitely … one of the hardest classes I have ever taken because it is extremely demanding,” Tinney said. “I think my passion for wanting to teach was … seeing how I was able to learn best and how I was able to succeed in such a challenging class and then wanting to spread that knowledge.”
Tinney said the position is not paid, and she has a heavy workload, but teaching in the laboratory is an extremely rewarding experience.
“Each lab has a giant packet essentially, so (I am) going through that making sure that I understand all the content in it, so if anyone asks me a question, I can help them,” Tinney said.
According to the CTLA’s “Guide for Teaching Assistants,” TAs can have additional jobs including creating a syllabus and following the university grading and cheating policies. TAs are not simply instructing courses but juggling their own classwork and assignments from supervisors.
Alexandra Kartsonas, a sophomore studying marketing and media arts production, is one of the several TAs for the Business Communication 1,500 class. Although it is online, Kartsonas dedicates four to five hours each week and grades the work of 40 students.
“It can be really difficult at first, to have this responsibility of so many kids' grades in your hands,” Kartsonas said. “As long as you keep an open line of communication with the professor and even with other TAs … everyone wants to help you out and make sure … you are learning from this experience too.”
Kartsonas is paid $13 an hour and had to apply with an attached letter of recommendation from a previous professor for approval.
“Being online presents its own challenges and its own set of projects, but we are really just available for any help that our assigned teacher or professor needs,” Kartsonas said.
Teaching “assistantships” are not limited to a typical classroom setting and some explore outside the boundaries of a traditional class experience.
Lou Mei Gutsch, a first-year graduate student studying outdoor education, was born and raised in Alaska and attended undergrad at Alaska Pacific University. Gutsch originally enrolled in culinary school but discovered an interest in nature and decided to enroll at OU.
“I was looking all over online for master’s degrees because I want to work for the National Parks … and so I was just looking around and on Facebook … and that is how I found out about Ohio University,” Gutsch said.
After seeing a professor's post showing interest in hiring graduate teaching assistants, Gutsch said she knew Athens was her next stop. She is currently a TA at the Patton College of Education and teaches three two-week-long classes each semester and takes students on weekend adventures paddleboarding and backpacking.
“I love just sharing the knowledge of how we can reconnect with the earth and how we can hone our skills,” Gutsch said. “I love teaching new skills to people who have never really recreated outside before, and it is just a totally new place for them.”
Gutsch said because of the position, she is only required to pay $1000 per academic year and her remaining tuition is free. The university also covers the class’s trip expenses and each student is required to pay an additional $35 fee.
Applying for a TA position may be beneficial for students who desire hands-on experience or a different campus setting. Tinney said she encourages those who cherish learning to take the next step and communicate with their professors.
“I think the thing professors look for most is just hard work and passion in what you are learning,” Tinney said.
Students interested in becoming TAs can find additional information on the TA resources website or ask their professors for an application.
