Statics Teaching Assistant
Spring and Fall 2023 I was a Teaching Assistant for an Engineering Statics Class (EK301), where I guided over 100 students through lectures, office hours, and exam review sessions.
Course Topics Overview
To summarize an entire semester in one sentence: Statics is the analysis of forces, moments, and equilibrium in rigid bodies, laying the foundation for solving structural and mechanical engineering problems.
Equilibrium
Solving via Newton’s laws involves setting the sum of forces and moments to zero (∑F = 0, ∑M = 0) to find unknowns (typically the reaction forces at supports or fixtures)
Virtual Work
Solving via virtual work involves applying a small imagined (virtual) displacement to calculate work done by forces; it's usefull in statically indeterminate systems, where traditional equilibrium equations alone aren't enough to solve for all unknowns.
Truss Analysis
Truss analysis determines internal forces in truss members under 2D loading, assuming members carry only axial forces (tension or compression), which helps assess potential failure modes like buckling in compression members.
Truss Project
Using what they've learned in class students design, simulate, build, and test their own acrylic trusses.
They begin by determining the critical buckling strength of acrylic strips in the Buckling Lab, followed by developing a MATLAB model for predicting truss performance. Throughout all stages of the project, my role involves helping students grasp important concepts, offering guidance on truss designs, and assisting in troubleshooting any coding issues.
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Building the truss
Testing the truss
My Role
EK301 is structured as a "flipped class." Students learn core material outside of class through videos and readings. Class time is then used for solving problems in small groups. As a TA, my role is to be a supportive and approachable guide—helping students when they get stuck, encouraging active participation, and making sure everyone understands the material.
EK301 has open office hours. Office hours are run by myself and the other TAs. Students can drop by to ask questions about homework, lectures, or anything engineering-related. Office hours are my favorite part of the role because they give me the chance to connect with students one-on-one, understand how they learn, and work closely with them to build a strong foundation.
EK301 has exam review sessions. Before each exam, I help lead a 6-hour review session covering practice problems and homework. It was intimidating at first, but running these sessions helped me build confidence in both my understanding and public speaking skills!
Feedback
When I first took on this position, I only planned to teach for one semester. However, the incredible feedback I received inspired me to continue for another semester, and I’m so glad I did.
Update [2024]: I have been asked to keep the feedback private now by BU—