Learning Assistants (LAs) are motivated undergraduate students who assist instructors and students in the teaching-learning enterprise. LAs are assigned to a particular course, and they work closely with instructors to provide challenging and meaningful learning experiences for enrolled students.
The primary requirement is familiarity and success with the course, preferably with the course as taught by a particular instructor, so that the assistant can help with in-class activities, specialized software or virtual labs, feedback on writing, grading (assuming a rubric), out-of-class tutoring, and other learning-focused responsibilities. Successful applicants are highly-skilled, advanced students who meet a strict set of qualifications:
- Grade of A- or A in the assigned course
- cum GPA of 3.2 or higher
The successful applicant’s schedule must be open during the class meeting time for the course.
Mandatory Responsibilities
- Meet with the instructor in and outside of class, as determined by the instructor
- Communicate effectively with supervising instructor, any additional teaching staff, and enrolled students
- Prepare for specific teaching- and learning-related assignments
Additional Responsibilities
As assigned by the supervising instructor and indicated on the LA Instructor Agreement. The LA and instructor meet at the beginning of the semester to fill out this form and submit it together.
On-the-Job Training
Brand new LAs are required to participate in training:
- New LA Orientation: this virtual meeting offers just-in-time training to get you started in your first week as an LA, as well as tips from experienced LAs. This occurs the Sunday immediately before classes begin, usually from 1:00 – 3:00 PM.
- Successful applicants who are scheduled for their first semester of LA service for the College of IST are required to take IST 389, the training course for LAs.
- IST 389 (Leadership and Technology for Instruction): during the first semester of employment, you will be enrolled in IST 389 for one credit. The course meets once a week for 75 minutes for the first half of the semester. A college administrative assistant will enroll you in one of the sections after you have been officially hired. The Fall 2022 sections of IST 389 are:
- Wednesdays from 4:00 – 5:15 PM
- Thursdays from 4:35 – 5:50 PM
- IST 389 (Leadership and Technology for Instruction): during the first semester of employment, you will be enrolled in IST 389 for one credit. The course meets once a week for 75 minutes for the first half of the semester. A college administrative assistant will enroll you in one of the sections after you have been officially hired. The Fall 2022 sections of IST 389 are:
Feedback & Evaluation
Formative feedback should be given to the LA at mid-semester (ideally, to be completed by students in the course and by the instructor). Feedback should be shared with the LA and instructor only. A performance evaluation should occur at the end of the semester (ideally, to be completed by students in the course and by the instructor). The results should be shared with the LA and instructor and filed in the Office of Learning Initiatives.
Start/End Dates
- Start date is Friday before classes begin. (LAs may work with instructors online prior to classes.)
- End date is the last day of Finals Week—or whatever earlier date the instructor sets (make end-of-semester travel plans accordingly).
Compensation
- All LAs will have the opportunity to be paid, including first-year LAs. The rate of compensation is $13/hr for first-semester LAs and $14/hr for each semester after the first.
- LA applicants who are hired and assigned to a faculty member must complete the PSU job application in addition to the application that indicates interest (for information, see https://learning.ist.psu.edu/la-application/). The link to the PSU jobs application will be sent to your PSU email account if you are hired as an LA.