Effective Use of Undergraduate Learning Assistants

Best Practices in Course Redesign

July 9, 2012

Dr. Megan E. Bradley,

Professor of Psychology @ Frostburg State University

mbradley@frostburg.edu

What is a ULA?

• Undergraduate-level student assistant• Learning not teaching• Answer questions

• All email

• Tutor• Some or all grading

• Need recruitment requirements• Need

What is a ULA?

• Need recruitment requirements• Need training and continued monitoring• Need some sort of “payment”

• But can be done for free

• Need continued enticement so good ULAs will repeat experience

Your turn

• What are the issues you see in using ULAs?

• What recruitment criteria do you think is important?

• How much training/monitoring is needed before and during?

• Psyc150: General Psychology• Frostburg State University in Frostburg, Maryland• Annual enrollment: About 900• Mostly traditional students and 1st year students

ULA Recruitment

• Obtain list of Psychology majors with top GPAs• Submission of names to Department for feedback

and approval

• Contact students via email for initial interest• Individual or small group meetings• Done before registration

ULA Responsibilities

• Assigned 2 small groups (N = 12) of Psyc150 students for all online work

• Grade Psyc150 student assignments based on rubrics

• Online discussions: Moderate & grade using rubric

• Answer student emails

ULA Course

• Psyc394: Learning Mentor in Psychology• Purpose

• Field experience - Training• Review current research on peer learning &

leadership/mentorship• Experience as peer mentor

• Taught by Psyc150 instructor (adjunct)

ULA Certificate Program

1. 6 crs: Pre-requisites

2. 3 cr: Psychology “Leadership” Courses

3. 3 cr: Psyc394 – Must earn a C

4. 6 cr: Electives: Step 2 or 3

ULA internship & paid positions

• Can work as intern for our department• ULA + research assistant

• Become Supplemental Instructor • Trained by another office• Run 1-3 study sessions/week

• Become Tutor• Trained by tutoring office