The Learning Assistants program partners talented undergraduates with faculty teaching large-enrollment courses to create learner-centered classrooms that are conceptually driven, cognitively challenging, and authentic to the discipline. LAs’ primary responsibilities include working with small teams of students, either within a large-lecture meeting, in recitation, and/or in office hours.
Benefits for LAs
- Develop content mastery and science identities
- Cultivate interpersonal and communication skills
- Learn about the evidence-based learning practices and how to implement them into classroom environments
Benefits of LA-supported Classrooms
- Students experience better learning outcomes
- Students experience greater satisfaction with course experience
- LA model contributes to changes in pedagogical practices of faculty and supports institutional transformation
- Increased in-class attention to students
Essential Elements of the LA Experience
- Student-LA interactions: facilitate small group learning and provide feedback to students
- Weekly LA-instructor meetings: meet with faculty mentor (course instructor) to review previous class sessions and plan for upcoming sessions
- Science of Learning seminar: learn how undergraduates learn, practice communication, and interaction skills, and explore evidence-based instructional practices
What do LAs do?
LAs work approximately 7.5 hours per week during an academic semester and can earn up to $1200. LA responsibilities include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Attend class sessions (2-4 hours, depending on course), which may include:
- Facilitating student discussion and other small group learning activities
- Assisting instructor with administrative tasks
- Providing feedback to students and instructor
- Developing course activities and/or demonstrations
- Participate in weekly LA-instructor meetings with faculty mentor (1 hour)
- Meet with students outside of class in office hours and/or during help/review sessions (2 hours)
- Provide feedback on student work or score assignments/exams (1-2 hours)
- Prepare for course as assigned by faculty mentor or review course content (1-2 hours)