>> Download the Biology TA Handbook
Introduction
Congratulations on receiving a teaching assistantship in the McGill Biology Department!
Being a teaching assistant (TA) can be a rewarding part of your graduate student experience, and we hope this handbook will help you make the most of your experience.
Whether you are a first-time TA or have years of experience, reading this handbook will help you to:
- Foster a safe, equitable, and inclusive learning environment.
- Model professionalism in communication and conduct.
- Encourage student curiosity and critical thinking.
- Use rubrics and grading keys to provide effective feedback to students.
- Encourage academic integrity and report signs of academic dishonesty.
- Develop your professional skills, including interpersonal communication and time management.
- Identify support resources for undergraduate and graduate students.
We recommend that you read this handbook at the beginning of each semester and that you consult it throughout the semester as questions or challenges arise.
This handbook is a companion to the McGill Biology Graduate Student Handbook, which includes information about the McGill Biology Department, applying for TAships, and other important topics for Biology Graduate Students. If you are from another department, your home department may have a similar resource.
This is the First Edition of the Biology TA Handbook. We will update the handbook as suggestions are made and as policies evolve. If you have any suggestions or comments for the Biology TA Training Working Group, please fill out this form.
Have a wonderful semester and happy teaching!
The Biology TA Training Working Group
Last update: Dec. 23, 2025