Other Settings ...

Other types of Learning Environments

LAs can be used in a multitude of ways. They can be used in laboratories, help/review sessions, and in office hours. All of these settings should have the space where students can work, and LAs can facilitate learning.

Laboratory

• LAs in large universities are usually paired with TAs to help students understand key concepts from class and help students come to their own conclusions about what they are observing in their data.  In smaller universities and colleges they may work with a faculty member in the laboratory. 

• LAs function particularly well in laboratory courses that emphasize argumentation such as Argument Driven Inquiry (https://www.argumentdriveninquiry.com/) or Model-Observe-Reflect-Explain (https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/education/policies/hsstandards/chapter-4.pdf)

Help/Review Sessions

LAs work with students through hard concepts and problems together. It is usually optional for students, so on its own, does not guarantee regular opportunities for the LA to work with small groups of students. 

• The LA encourages students to work in pairs or in small groups and focuses on problem solving, instead of simply getting the answer. 

• LAs can model problem solving techniques, which will not only help their learning, but also help students with exams. 

• LAs may be paired with another structured course component such as in-class activities or recitation.

Office Hours

LAs can also hold office hours, similar to a professor or TA. They can help students by modeling problem solving skills, as well as having students explain their reasoning while they work aloud on problems that they are struggling with. LAs can also encourage students to work together on questions that they have in common.  

Auxiliary Settings

• LAs might help at a university open house and use their skills to lead a demonstration activity for visiting high school students.  

• Experienced LAs 

  • may want to learn more about Discipline Based Research to contribute discourses about practice and pedagogy.

  • LAs can serve as mentors for newer LAs.