Become a Physics Learning Assistant!
The physics department is seeking students who are interested in being Learning Assistants for fall, 2013.
LAs assist with the instructional mission of the physics department by working with faculty who are teaching Physics 1430 (Mechanics) and Physics 2425 (Electricity and Magnetism), facilitating student learning in the classroom, and providing support for students in the Physics Help Center. LAs will also attend preparation sessions each week, and will be required to enroll in a physics course, Physics 4320 (Special Topics: Physics Cognition and Pedagogy), taught by Dr. Eleanor Close. LAs commit between 5 and 10 hours a week to preparation and work in the classroom, with the option of more hours for grading and staffing the Physics Help Center. LAs are paid at a rate of $10.00 per hour, and upon completion of all of their obligations new LAs will also receive a $300 stipend. LAs are different from Laboratory Instructors in several ways: LAs assist faculty in the classroom, facilitate student interactions within the framework of research-based activities, and study and reflect on relevant discipline-based pedagogical research. Students from any major are welcome to apply to be Learning Assistants; the only prerequisite is successful completion of Physics 1430 (to serve as an LA in Physics 1430) or both Physics 1430 and Physics 2425 (to serve as an LA Physics 2425). Applicants who are interested in the philosophy behind the Learning Assistant model can visit the page at
Students who have never been a Learning Assistant and are interested in becoming Learning Assistants should complete the online application at
Students who have been Learning Assistants before and would like to continue should complete the online application at
The deadline for application to the program is Friday, April 19 at 5:00 PM. Decisions regarding employment will be made by May 1.
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