Learning Assistant
Learning Assistant
Apply to be a Learning Assistant
Thank you for your interest in becoming a Learning Assistant (LA) in the Psychology Department. The job of a Learning Assistant is to aid faculty in fostering small-group interactions and active learning in the classroom. They are not traditional Teaching Assistants (TAs). It is simply a way to have another knowledgeable person in the classroom to help students learn. We also highly recommend our LAs to be drop-in and appointment-based tutors, but it is not required.
Application Form for Spring 2027
Qualifications
1. Be highly motivated to help other students learn in small groups in the classroom.
2. Have a helpful, respectful, and professional attitude.
3. Have excelled in the course that you want to LA in (Note: There is not a strict grade requirement, but you should be able to get a favorable recommendation from your previous professor).
4. Have availability during the semester to attend the class you are assigned to (typically meets 2x per week) and a weekly meeting with your assigned professor.
LA Expectations
Role of Learning Assistants in the Classroom
Psychology Learning Assistants at Rowan are select undergraduate students, who have excelled in the course in a previous semester.
LAs function primarily in the classroom to facilitate individual or small-group learning. These classes can be structured (like team-based and project-based learning) or unstructured (having students actively engaged in material in other ways in the classroom). The goal for LAs is that they interact with students as much as possible, particularly in small-group or one-on-one situations (e.g. application exercises, debates, discussion boards, etc.).
Responsibilities of Learning Assistants
LAs are generally responsible for attending each class period, helping students in the class, meeting with the course’s lead instructor weekly, preparing any necessary materials for class, and potentially providing feedback and guidance on homework and other assignments. Their primary function is not as a grader, teacher, or class supervisor. LAs are expected to spend up to 10 hours per week in their roles (including the time spent in the classroom).
Opportunities for Professional Development
Ideally, every LA will also get some experience lecturing on a class topic. Lead instructors of classes with LAs are highly encouraged to provide LAs with at least one opportunity to present a mini-lecture (~15 minutes) on a course topic, so that they can gain the experience of crafting and delivering a PowerPoint lecture on a class topic.
Courses Offered to Learning Assistants
We traditionally have LAs in both the Statistics in Psychology and the Research Methods in Psychology courses, but some instructors of other courses teach their classes in ways that would benefit from having an LA as well. If you are interested in LAing for another course, please indicate that in the application form. If the course you're interested in is not listed, please write it in under the "Other" option. Most LAs will be placed in either Statistics or Research Methods, so requesting another course is not a guarantee, but we will try.
If you believe that you have these qualifications and are interested in applying to be an LA, please fill out the following form. The LA Coordinator for the psychology department, Dr. Daniel Bogart, will contact you via email about your application. If you have any questions about the LA program or anything about the LA position, please email Dr. Bogart at bogart@rowan.edu.
Compensation
Course Credit
LAing for credit involves being added to a separate “LA Seminar Course.” The majority of the work you will do in order to earn credit is by working with the lead instructor of the class you are an LA for. But if you are LAing for course credit, you will also meet a few times over the course of the semester with the LA Coordinator, and you will turn in a portfolio assignment at the end of the semester. The course is “pass/no credit” and counts for 3 credits (either PSY elective or free elective). Students may LA for credit a maximum of 2 semesters (i.e., a cap of 6 credits for LAing).
Federal Word Study (FSW) Funding
If students are eligible for FWS funding, and if there are funds available for disbursement, then students can get compensated financially for the time they spend completing their LA responsibilities. The position pays at the rate of ___/hour.
Volunteer Basis
LAing is still a valuable and rewarding experience for many students, even without an additional form of compensation. LAing on a volunteer basis is ideal for students who are looking for leadership and/or service opportunities, even if they are not eligible for FWS funding and do not need additional course credits.