Presentation Type
Poster
Faculty Mentor’s Full Name
Josh Herring
Faculty Mentor’s Department
Education
Abstract / Artist's Statement
During the Fall 2021 semester, I was a Learning Assistant in Dr. Bruce Hardy’s Ways of Knowing. Ways of Knowing is primarily a seminar-based course with small group discussions and minimal lectures. Students are assigned a daily reading and analyze it during class time. In Dr. Hardy’s course, I made weekly quizzes, participated in and guided group discussions, provided resources for the students, added new ideas to the class structure, and provided a different perspective for students to consider. It is significant for professors to know the effectiveness of implementing a Learning Assistant in their class. Additionally, it is important to understand how students learn best and who is equipped to aid in that endeavor than the students themselves. Through a survey I provided during my time in the class, I found that having a Learning Assistant in the undergraduate classroom benefits all individuals involved. The students have an additional resource to support their learning experience and the instructor has someone that can easily relate to the students and advocate for their needs. The Learning Assistant works on interpersonal skills and finds confidence in speaking in front of peers. My biggest takeaway from this experience was that fellow undergraduate students are the best resource for making courses relevant, politically correct, and understandable for students. Students are the ones paying for their education and should be involved in structuring, aiding, and editing their courses.
Category
Humanities
Being A Learning Assistant in A Ways of Knowing Course
UC South Ballroom
During the Fall 2021 semester, I was a Learning Assistant in Dr. Bruce Hardy’s Ways of Knowing. Ways of Knowing is primarily a seminar-based course with small group discussions and minimal lectures. Students are assigned a daily reading and analyze it during class time. In Dr. Hardy’s course, I made weekly quizzes, participated in and guided group discussions, provided resources for the students, added new ideas to the class structure, and provided a different perspective for students to consider. It is significant for professors to know the effectiveness of implementing a Learning Assistant in their class. Additionally, it is important to understand how students learn best and who is equipped to aid in that endeavor than the students themselves. Through a survey I provided during my time in the class, I found that having a Learning Assistant in the undergraduate classroom benefits all individuals involved. The students have an additional resource to support their learning experience and the instructor has someone that can easily relate to the students and advocate for their needs. The Learning Assistant works on interpersonal skills and finds confidence in speaking in front of peers. My biggest takeaway from this experience was that fellow undergraduate students are the best resource for making courses relevant, politically correct, and understandable for students. Students are the ones paying for their education and should be involved in structuring, aiding, and editing their courses.