Roles for Experienced LAs
Experienced LAs can play a variety of roles in an institution's LA Program. They can assist faculty with course revisions, develop instructional materials. They can assist and co-lead weekly preparation sessions or becoming involved in the pedagogy course. They can also serve as mentors to less experienced LAs. At the national level, experienced LAs can serve on panels, give presentations on the LA Model and can serve on national leadership committees such as the LAA Leadership Council.
LA Mentoring Program
The LA Mentors Program is an effort to better support LAs, faculty, and students.
Experienced LAs (undergraduates who have previously gone through the LA Program) serve as LA Mentors for first-time LAs and they also assist faculty new to using LAs. Mentors observe settings in which LAs are used and consult with their mentee and faculty member throughout the semester. They also take a special course on mentoring and leadership. LA Mentors work directly with the LA Pedagogy Course instructors to provide opportunities for LAs to learn throughout a term. LA Mentors learn leadership and mentoring skills and can participate in helping to build a program. Also, check out the LA Mentoring Playlist on the LAA Video Resource Channel @ LA Mentoring Playlist.
LAs as part of Panels
LAs have specific experience and expertise that support the implementation of the LA Model and they can be excellent resources and supporters of the model. One LA Mentor from CU-Boulder used the term "ambassadors." LA Panels are a regular fixture at the regional LA workshops and the international conference. But these panels can be held locally, at your institution.
The video at right shows an example of an LA Panel where students from Harold Washington College and Chicago State University respond to questions from a facilitator and questions from participants at this regional workshop. The video is from the 2016 Regional LA Workshop in Chicago hosted jointly by Harold Washington College and Chicago State University.
LA involvement in Education Research
LAs, through the support of the pedagogy course and weekly preparation sessions, develop excellent skills and understanding of effective pedagogy. They can also develop ownership of instructional material and develop an appreciation of research based instructional curriculum. Because of these skills and experience they can make excellent researchers who focus on education and best supporting peers in the STEM classroom.
Here is one example of education research work led by undergraduate LAs:
F. Davenport, F. Amezcua, M. Sabella, A. Van Duzor, 2017 Physics Education Research Conference Proceedings, Exploring the Underlying Factors in Learning Assistant - Faculty Partnerships