The Eberly College of Science Learning Assistant Program is supported by the Grove Center. Since the Fall of 2011, the LA Program has expanded to all departments across ECoS and engages over 800 students as learning facilitators each year. LAs are undergraduate students who have taken a course and then are chosen by the course instructor to become a part of their instructional team. LAs are not content experts and they are not teaching assistants. LAs are learning facilitators required to take a 1-credit pedagogy course focused on introducing them to research-based learning strategies and learning facilitation. As members of an instructional team, LAs facilitate active learning in the classroom, meet weekly with their instructional team and provide feedback on the student experience in the classroom. LAs earn 1 course credit for their completion of their training in SC 220 and they earn 1 course credit each semester they work as LAs as part of an instructional team.

The goals of the Eberly College of Science Learning Assistant program are:

1. To enhance the learning environment in ECoS classes that have chosen to use collaborative active learning activities as a part of the course curriculum.
2. To train students to serve as learning assistants. This training will take place largely through a pedagogy class that focuses on how learning works and the strategies that LAs can use to facilitate learning.
3. To provide professional development opportunities for LAs through additional project opportunities
4. To provide support to faculty who want to use LAs in their courses.

Are you an Instructor Considering Using an LA?

Read our checklist to help guide your decision.

Are you a Student Considering Registering to be an LA?

Read our checklist to help guide your decision.