Center for Faculty Development
Learning Assistant Student Resources
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The LA Program provides professional development for the LAs through the facilitation of course activities, leading study sessions, and supporting the faculty member in implementing innovative teaching techniques in an active learning classroom.
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"I feel accomplished seeing students be able to apply the information to examples."
Anonymous LA, Fall '24
LAs participate a pedagogy course to help prepare them for the active learning classroom. Here are some of the topics that are covered:
- Professionalism, Confidentiality, and Boundary Setting
- Questioning Strategies: Facilitating Discussions and Furthering Learning Through Asking
- Learning Theories: Five Key Theories for How We Learn
- Motivation: Understanding Mastery versus Performance
- Mindset and Metacognition: Growth Mindset and Thinking about Your Thinking
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Recognizing Biases and Privilege
LAs meet weekly with their professor to go over what will be covered that week in class.
LAs log their weekly time, up to 8 hours per week, in order to be paid for the important role they play in the active learning classroom.
Where do I find resources on...
- Introduce yourself to the students you will be working with and get to know their names.
- Check in with your students when you see them. (i.e. "How are you doing?" "What do you have going on today?")
- During class, walk around during active learning, smile, make eye contact, get down on the same level as the group you're working with (standing over someone can feel intimidating).
- Ask questions to help guide your students' learning, rather than provide answers.
- It is OK to not know the answer to a question. You can simply let the student know you will make note of their question, ask the professor, and get back to them about how to proceed.
- More LAing Resources from UC Boulder