Learning Assistant (LA) Program
Research shows that YOU have the abilities and talents to help your peers!
What are Learning Assistants?
Learning assistants are high-performing students who have done well in a class and would like to help the instructor come up with active learning strategies.
As an LA you would:
- Meet with the instructor for whom you are an LA once a week to develop learning activities
- Attend class once a week (the time may vary depending on the needs of the faculty member) to implement those activities
- Potentially hold office hours to help students one-on-one
- Take an LA class (pedagogy class) with Dr. Parizi-Robinson
Who can be a Learning Assistant?
LA candidates typically:
- Have a passion for certain topic
- Enjoy collaborating with a certain instructor
- Like interacting with students in small groups
- Are Biology Majors
Requirements:
- 3.0 or better in selected course
- Sophomore or higher classification
- Priority is given to Biology Majors but being a Biology Major is not a requirement
- Time commitment of 3-4 hours a week
Policies:
- All LAs must read the registration policies before enrollment.
- As a 3rd (and beyond) semester LA, you have 1 of 2 options:
- Option 1: You can receive 1 hour of general advanced credit. Please fill out the document below.
- These forms are processed through several departments. Please follow the instructions below before you submit to Dr. Parizi-Robinson, Biology majors only.
- Non-BIO majors - Send degree audit petition to your major's Undergraduate Program Director for a signature.
- Must include the COURSE CRN, where noted in the details box, as it tells us WHICH section of 3111 to give credit for.
- The registration petition requires GPA near the bottom.
- Save the document by adding your name in the file name. This helps with identification of the students petition when being processed through several Baylor offices.
- Option 2: You can be paid as an LA based on the available budget. (Please discuss this option with your financial aid advisor prior to pursuing.)
- Option 1: You can receive 1 hour of general advanced credit. Please fill out the document below.
Benefits of having Learning Assistants?
Benefits of being an LA
- Teaching experience
- Deeper understanding of subject matter
- Review of subject matter for those testing for graduate or medical school
Benefits to other students:
- Students learn better from their peers, in part because they are more comfortable asking their peers questions
- The smaller group size allows for more opportunities for questions
- Varied instruction will benefit students with different learning styles
Contact Us
Dr. Mojgan Parizi-Robinson
Lecturer in Biology
BSB A.226
(254) 710-2569