Interested in teaching but not sure if it is for you? Try it out by being a Learning Assistant!
Learning Assistants (LAs) are undergraduate students who help fellow students learn under the supervision of a faculty member. Instead of explaining concepts, they ask questions to help students make progress by themselves. LAs have taken the class previously and receive special concurrent preparation, both on content, as well as on effective STEM pedagogy. The course instructor meets with the LAs on a weekly basis to discuss the course learning objectives, typical student difficulties, issues in facilitating student learning and to make sure they are well prepared to engage in peer-assisted learning. LAs will not only gain a much deeper understanding of the content, but also significant experience in teaching in a college classroom, particularly useful for those who are interested to explore teaching as a vocation.
At Cal Poly, LAs are currently included in:
Physics, Geology, Astronomy, and Physical Sciences
If you are interested, contact Dr. Vardha N. Bennert vbennert@calpoly.edu