What are the responsibilities and job description for the Physical Therapy Teaching Assistant position at The College of St. Scholastica?
Job Purpose/Description:
Assist course faculty in supporting first-year Physical Therapy students across multiple courses, including Functional Anatomy/Neuroscience, Examination & Evaluation, Interventions, and Biomechanics. Responsibilities include facilitating lab activities, monitoring and maintaining lab equipment, assisting with student skill development, and providing academic support.
Job Duties:
- Collaborate with course faculty and other TAs to schedule open lab times that meet student and program needs.
- Engage with first-year students to answer course-related questions, assist in skills practice, and support learning in various PT courses.
- Assist in setting up and taking down labs, practical exams, and mock practical exams.
- Serve as a simulated patient for practical exams as needed.
- Perform competency/proficiency checks for psychomotor examination skills, physical agent modalities, electrotherapy, assistive device use, transfers, and exercise techniques.
- Monitor and maintain lab equipment, ensuring cleanliness, proper storage, and functionality.
- Perform routine lab cleaning, including managing laundry, disinfecting surfaces, and organizing equipment.
- Maintain an inventory of supplies and inform course faculty or the Administrative Assistant when replacements are needed.
- Monitor donor bodies and anatomical models, ensuring proper preservation and notifying faculty of any concerns.
- Assist in preparing anatomical and neuroanatomical prosections.
- Provide feedback and assist faculty in grading assignments as assigned.
- Hold individual or small group study sessions to support student learning and comprehension.
- Communicate with the Administrative Assistant and course faculty regarding lab scheduling, inventory, and any issues that arise.
- Complete and submit timesheets as required.
Required Qualifications:
- Must be a current CSS student.
- Must be a second-year CSS Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) student in good standing.
- Must have demonstrated mastery of course content relevant to assigned TA responsibilities (e.g., PTH 6510/6511, PTH 6520/6521, PTH 6530/6531, PTH 6505) as determined by course faculty.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Must be a current CSS student.
- Must be a second-year CSS DPT student in good standing.
- Federal work-study eligibility required
- Excellent organizational skills.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills (verbal, non-verbal, written, active listening).
- Ability to provide constructive, respectful feedback.
- Effective problem-solving skills and resource management.
- Professionalism and commitment to student learning. Ability to manage stress effectively.
Additional Information
Biomechanics TA - (1-3 students needed for summer Biomechanics & selected students could also have an additional fall/spring TA position): 5-10 hours per week late June to August. Responsibilities:
- Review course content and textbook to understand course content thoroughly
- Post a minimum of 5 hours per week during summer 2 session outside of scheduled class time for 1:1 or small group meetings with students seeking assistance. Meetings can be via zoom or in person.
- Provide first-year students with individualized assistance to learn and understand course-related concepts and complete assignments
- Contribute to student learning, growth, and advancement
- Facilitate problem-solving and critical thinking skills
Anatomy/Neuro TA (2-4 students needed): 5-10 hours per week, late June to August (Anatomy), and Fall semester (Neuroscience). Responsibilities:
- Schedule and host open lab times in the anatomy dissection laboratory to assist students with content understanding and dissection progression.
- Assist in monitoring dissection equipment, supply inventory, lab cleanliness, and routine cleaning.
- Assist in monitoring status of donor bodies, and rehydrating/wrapping as needed.
- Assist in preparing prosections for use in anatomy and neuroscience coursework.
- Provide first-year students with individualized assistance to learn and understand course-related concepts.
- Assist the course faculty in setting-up and taking-down practical exams.
- Provide instructional and grading support during neuroscience laboratories.
Exam & Eval TA (2-3 students needed): 5-10 hours per week Fall and Spring. Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with Interventions TAs and course faculty to schedule necessary open lab times to meet program and student needs
- Perform first year student competency proficiency checks (vital signs, hip, knee, ankle)
- Contribute to first year student learning, growth, and advancement through individual or small group meetings and open lab times
- Assist course faculty in setting up/taking down labs and practical exams, providing initial feedback or grading assignments, and participating as standardized patients for practical exams as time allows
- Assist in monitoring equipment maintenance, storage, supply inventory, lab cleanliness and routine cleaning
- Communicate open lab times, competency schedules, equipment or supply needs, and problems/concerns with course faculty and/or Administrative Assistant
Interventions TA (2-3 students needed): 5-10 hours per week Fall and Spring. Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with E/E TAs and course faculty to schedule necessary open lab times to meet program and student needs
- Perform first year student competency proficiency checks (physical agents, electrotherapy, assistive devices, therapeutic exercise, balance, psychomotor examination skills, etc)
- Contribute to first year student learning, growth, and advancement through individual or small group meetings and open lab times
- Assist course faculty in setting up/taking down labs and practical exams, providing initial feedback or grading assignments, and participating as standardized patients for practical exams as time allows
- Assist in monitoring equipment maintenance, storage, supply inventory, lab cleanliness and routine cleaning
- Communicate open lab times, competency schedules, equipment or supply needs, and problems/concerns with course faculty and/or Administrative Assistant
