Online Class Settings
(may be a fully online course or a hybrid with both online and in-person components)
Typical Learning Environment
Many colleges and universities are increasing online class offerings, especially for non-major courses. These courses can also benefit from using LAs. The learning environment can either be exclusively online or a hybrid of online activities and in-person meeting times. Most online activities are asynchronous which require different LA interactions with students than in an in-person classroom context. Online modules can include interactive activities, such as discussion forums and peer review, in addition to individual activities, such as papers and exams.
What Do Students Do?
Students engage in discussion about content applications in online forums based on readings, simulations, and/or videos.
What do LAs Do?
In the online environment, LAs hold two roles: that of the model student and as a co-administrator or learning support.
In the role of model student LAs,
help facilitate discussion by encouraging students to share, discuss, and justify their answers in the discussion forums,
serve to guide students back to scientifically accepted explanations if discussion veers too far.
In the role of learning support, LAs
provide direct support to students through online tutoring sessions or peer-review
assist the instructor by pre-viewing activities and aiding in development of course materials such as designing rubrics or finding relevant videos online.
Materials Needed
Challenging questions for discussion, which do not have “right” answers to support rich discussion.
Flexible course management system.
Guided-inquiry based activity documents or sets of well-sequenced questions that allow students to articulate, defend, and modify their ideas which are suitable for online completion. For examples, see: PhET Online Simulations: https://phet.colorado.edu/
The Numbers
LA to Student Ratio
1 LA to 15 - 30 students
Hiring Needs
1 LA per course
Coordination with Other Course Components
Some courses may be hybrids with either in-person laboratories or class session. The LA may also serve as the LA for these components of the class as well. Students in the online component of the hybrid course may be more open with the LA if they have worked with them in person as well.
Variations and Suggestions:
The LA must be comfortable with using technology and the course management system. Online modules should be open to the LA before they are open to students to enable the LA to be prepared. The LA should introduce themselves to the online course students through either email introductions or a video, so students are aware of their presence and comfortable turning to them for help.
Before faculty open a new module, LAs can preview it to ensure that the links and directions are easy to follow for a non-expert student.
LAs can have online office hours when students know someone is available for video-conferencing.
LAs can moderate small groups who choose to meet synchronously online to delve deeper into discussion.
LAs can email students who appear to be struggling to provide more support.
LAA Video Resources
In these videos we explore how LAs can be used in Online Course Environments. CSU LA Dontrell Cornelius and CSU faculty member, Andrea Van Duzor discuss how they collaborated to leverage an LA in an online Critical Thinking Course.