(Formally named Physics UTA Program)
Why become a LA?
- Help your peers learn physics.
- Improve your own understanding.
- Develop teaching skills.
- Increase the diversity of our instructional teams.
- Become an undergraduate leader!
Overview:
The Physics Learning Assistant (LA) Program provides an excellent opportunity for students to gain instructional leadership experience in introductory physics courses. LAs work with course instructors and graduate TAs to facilitate cooperative learning sessions (co-ops), labs, and study halls (a.k.a. homework parties), and thus serve as an integral part of the course instructional team.
To support LAs in developing successful teaching practices, new LAs participate in a weekly one-credit seminar course, 4484: "Teaching and Learning Physics", which covers key concepts in physics education theory and practice.
Ultimately, LAs help their fellow students to learn physics. In the process, LAs improve their own understanding of physics while also becoming better teachers, better learners, and better communicators!
Program Details:
The LA program involves three related activities requiring a total time commitment of roughly 6 hours per week. LAs are assigned to one of the Department's calculus-based introductory or intermediate courses (e.g., PHYS 1112, 2213, 2214; 2207, 2208; 1116, 2217, 2218; 3316, 3317, 3318, 3327). They co-teach cooperative learning sections and/or labs with a graduate student TA and/or staff course study halls for a total of 2 contact hours per week. Course staff may ask LAs to attend weekly instructional staff meeting. New LAs attend a seminar on teaching and learning physics, and the ~6 hours includes preparation time and the seminar.
Practice: Most LAs partner with a graduate TA or course instructor to facilitate two one-hour cooperative learning sessions or one two-hour lab each week. In co-ops, students work in teams to solve complex problems through deliberate practice. The LA and TA ask questions to guide the students toward a deeper understanding of the subject, and also provide feedback to the course instructors. Most cooperative learning sessions and labs take place between 8:00 am and 4:25 pm, and a few lab sections meet 7:30-9 pm on MW. Some LAs, typically those with previous experience, may be assigned to help out at study halls: drop-in problem solving / homework help sessions, which typically occur in the afternoons and evenings on Sundays and weekdays.
Preparation: Discussion section LAs should work the assigned co-op problems and discuss any important points with their TA partners or other course staff. Lab LAs will preview the lab and be familiar with the lab manual and equipment for each lab. Course instructors may ask LAs to attend regularly scheduled instructional team meetings, consisting of faculty, graduate TAs and LAs, to prepare for the upcoming cooperative learning sessions and labs and to reflect on the previous week's activities. LAs are particularly sensitive to the struggles of their peers and so bring important insights to the faculty and graduate TAs.
Pedagogy: New LAs enroll and participate in the 1.5 hour weekly seminar course – 4484: Teaching and Learning Physics. This interactive seminar introduces LAs to key concepts in teaching and learning and guides them through reflection upon their teaching experiences. The seminar also provides a peer support network with which to share ideas and strategies.
Credit: LAs enroll in 2 one-credit courses: 4484 "Teaching and Learning Physics", the seminar course; and 4485 "Teaching Experience", which documents the experience you gain assisting learners in a classroom (or office hours) setting. These credits will appear on your transcript, but do not count toward graduation requirements.
Eligibility: Not a physics major? Not a problem! Our LAs typically come from more than a dozen majors in any given semester. All first-year through seniors from any school/major who have taken at least one of Cornell's calculus-based introductory courses (2207-2208, 1112-2213-2214, 1116-2217-2218) are encouraged to apply. Those students with interests in teaching at some point in their post-Cornell lives, especially at the middle school, high school or college level, are particularly encouraged to apply. Do not worry if you did not earn A’s – everyone benefits from teaching experience, and we consider all applicants.
Now accepting applications for Spring 2025
Questions? If you have any questions, or would like more information, please contact Dr. Jim Baker.