Undergraduate Learning Assistants (UGLAs) provide a range of benefits to students, faculty, and the broader university community. These include peer learning and support, a deepened understanding of the course material, the development of teaching and leadership skills for UGLAs, and instructional support for faculty.
Students interested in being an Undergraduate Learning Assistant and enrolling in BIO494: Mentored Undergraduate Teaching Experience can follow the procedures below.
1) Speak to a faculty member about entering into an agreement for BIO494 and develop a plan.
- Credit hours: The university requires 45 hours of contact work per credit.
- 1 credit requires 45 hours, about 1-3 contact hours a week
- 2 credits require 90 hours, about 5-6 hours a week
- 3 credits require 135 hours, about 8-10 hours a week
- 4 credits require 180 hours, about 10-23 hours per week
- Responsibilities: e.g. attending lectures, aiding in labs, preparing materials, facilitating learning activities, holding office hours, and/or participating in required meetings. Discuss any plans should you work remotely on certain tasks.
- Learning Outcomes: what you should gain from the experience (e.g., deeper understanding of the subject, teaching experience, leadership skills).
- Evaluation Criteria: an overview of how you will be evaluated for the course (e.g., pass/fail or letter grade, based on performance and fulfillment of learning outcomes).
If regular check-ins are required with your mentor (e.g. to reflect on your progress, discuss challenges, and receive feedback) please indicate that here.
Note: Faculty mentors evaluate students and have full discretion when assigning a final grade for BIO494.
2) Create a brief description/summary of this conversation (<2100 characters, 2-3 sentences) will be provided within the SOLS OMNIBUS form.
3) Save any detailed notes from your conversation, as the longer agreement will be uploaded to the BIO494 Canvas shell at the beginning of the semester.
4) Complete the OMNIBUS form.
Course requirements
Students enrolled in BIO494: Mentored Undergraduate Teaching Experience will be added to that semester’s BIO494 Canvas shell facilitated by the SOLS Experiential Learning Coordinator (Paula Baker) and Lab Manager (Ben Crane).
Within the Canvas shell, students must complete four trainings each academic year (at least two per semester). Modules include but are not limited to FERPA, ASU’s Community of Care, and Elements of Professional Communication.
Students must upload a detailed agreement (or notes from their faculty mentor meeting) to the Canvas shell outlining their BIO494 responsibilities, learning outcomes, and evaluation criteria.