Small Classroom Settings

(Class time is used for interactive engagement and potentially lecture)

Typical Learning Environment

Small sized classes can also benefit from using LAs whether it is an introductory course at a small institution or an upper level course at a small or large institution. A studio-style classroom is ideal ( tables with 4 to 9 students), but a traditional seminar-style classroom will also work. Small lecture classes may use a hybrid of other classroom instructional styles.

This can include student use of

personal response systems (“clickers” as seen in large-lecture classrooms)
guided-inquiry activities and/or
problem-solving activities (as seen in recitation and flipped-classrooms).

What Do Students Do?

Students engage in conversations with the peers to answer clicker questions and work through inquiry activities. Students must justify their answers and work together to deepen understanding.

What do LAs Do?

LAs help facilitate discussion, promoting useful dialogue, answering student questions, and providing feedback to the instructor on student understanding, by encouraging students to share, discuss, and justify their answers. They may engage in Socratic dialog to help guide students to understanding. The LAs guidance in the classroom is modified based on the nature of the activity (clicker question or group learning activity.)

Materials Needed

Peer Response Systems
- Challenging, discussion worthy, conceptual questions for lecture.
- Students can use clickers or other technology to submit their responses. Low-tech alternatives, such colored sticks or holding the number of their answer in front of their chest, can also work.
- For a guide on how to effectively use clickers, go to: http://www.cwsei.ubc.ca/resources/clickers.htm
Guided-inquiry based activity documents or sets of well-sequenced questions that allow students to articulate, defend, and modify their ideas.

For examples, see:

The Numbers

LA to Student Ratio

1 LA to 15 - 30 students

Hiring Needs

1 LA per course

Coordination with Other Course Components

Courses that use LAs in lecture may also have either required or optional recitation-like sessions or an associated laboratory course. In many cases, the same LAs who facilitate in lecture can also facilitate small-group discussions in recitation or laboratory.

Variations and Suggestions

During lecture portions of the course, have the LA sit at student tables not off to the side to help foster communication between the LA and students.
LAs can be assigned to provide greater support to a struggling group, while the instructor fields the majority of questions from the remaining groups.
LAs can provide real-time feedback to instructors during class regarding pacing and challenging questions that may require full class discussion.

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