Course Syllabus

PHY 4905-LA: Learning Assistant Program in Physics

Instructor Contact

Instructors (Office)	Kathryn McGill, Ph.D. (NPB 2112) Sujata Krishna, Ph.D. (NPB 2249)
Email	PHY4905-LA@phys.uf.edu
Office Hours	By appointment via email above.
Class	NPB 1200, p4,  10:40 - 11:30 am

 

Course Description

The LA Model is characterized by three essential elements: Pedagogy, Weekly Preparation, and Practice. This course introduces new LAs to active learning. The course will use activities that support:

1. Eliciting student ideas and helping all group members become active and engaged in the class.

2. Listening and questioning.

3. Building relationships.

4. Integrating learning theories with effective practices.

Course Prerequisites: Successful completion of the physics course for which you are assigned as a Learning Assistant, or an equivalent course.

Credits: 1

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Engage with students and content in the PHY2004/2005 course using the Socratic method to enhance a deeper understanding of the relevant physics concepts.
• Provide effective feedback to students in the physics course 2004/2005, in a scaffolded fashion.
• Critically reflect on physics instructional techniques. 

Student Expectations

To achieve the learning outcomes, students are expected to:

• Check eLearning for announcements regularly.
• Plan your engagement with course content for the week ahead.
• Read the assigned article on pedagogy.
• Provide effective feedback to students in the physics course 2004/2005.
• Engage with students in the PHY2004/2005 course in a small-group setting. You may be responsible for assisting a few small groups. 

This course requires time to do all of the above, and students should plan accordingly to spend 3 hours per week of study for this course.

Required Materials for PHY2004/2005

The required text is Physics: Principles with Applications by Douglas Giancoli, 7^th ed, published by Pearson. The course is set up for an All-Access opt-in to purchase the text online for students who have registered in the course. The opt-in procedure begins with this link: https://www.bsd.ufl.edu/G1CO/IPay1f/start.aspx?TASK=INCLUDED.

The required online homework system is MasteringPhysics, access to which is included in the purchase of the online textbook described above. Access MasteringPhysics using the link provided in the Canvas website menu item "MyLab and Mastering".

• eLearning Help

For Canvas, passwords, or any other computer-related technical support contact the UF Help Desk:

• phone: (352) 392-HELP (4357)
• website: http://helpdesk.ufl.edu
• email: helpdesk@ufl.edu 

Course Policies

ATTENDANCE POLICY: You are expected to attend the preparatory session on Fridays, P4, as scheduled.  In addition you are expected to actively participate in the practice "Group Work" sessions scheduled for your course. These will be on Fridays in your assigned course. 

FEEDBACK POLICY: In addition to working with the groups assigned to you during the group work sessions, you will be providing written (ungraded) formative feedback to the groups after each group work session. This feedback must be completed, scanned and submitted by 11:59 PM the  Monday following the group work.   

GROUP WORK POLICY: Physics is learned by doing. PHY2004/2005 students will have required in-class problem solving sessions with harder problems than they are expected to solve individually on exams. There will be at least 4, at most 6, group work sessions in class. Your group will be assigned after the add/drop deadline, and will be visible in eLearning - People - Groups. You will be required to provide feedback to your groups on work they submit.

ATTENDANCE AND MAKE-UP POLICY: Excused absences and allowances for make-up work are consistent with university policies in the undergraduate catalog  (https://catalog.ufl.edu/UGRD/academic-regulations/attendance-policies/#absencestext ) and require appropriate documentation. For a foreseeable absence, it is your responsibility to identify yourself as requiring an accommodation at least one week prior to the absence. The best way to do this is to email the instructor with your absence date and attach the relevant documentation for the excuse. 

 

Grade Distribution

Grades in the course are awarded based on an overall course score calculated as follows:

Category	Percentage of Course Grade
Regular Attendance	10%
Participation in Prep sessions	20%
Engagement with groups in Group work	50%
Written Feedback on Group Work	20%
Total	100%

 

Grade Scheme

The following grading standards will be used in this class:

A	A-	B+	B	B-	C+	C	C-	D+	D	D-	E
85+	80 <85	75 <80	70 <75	65 <70	60<65	55 <60	50<55	45<50	40 <45	40 <35	0 <35

 

Institutional Policies and Procedures

UNIVERSITY POLICY ON ACCOMMODATING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Students with disabilities who experience learning barriers and would like to request academic accommodations should connect with the disability Resource Center by visiting disability.ufl.edu/students/get-started. It is important for students to share their accommodation letter with their instructor and discuss their access needs, as early as possible in the semester. You must submit this documentation prior to submitting assignments or taking the quizzes or exams. Accommodations are not retroactive, therefore, students should contact the office as soon as possible in the term for which they are seeking accommodations.

 

 UNIVERSITY POLICY ON ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT:  Academic honesty and integrity are fundamental values of the University community. Students should be sure that they understand the UF Student Honor Code at https://www.dso.ufl.edu/sccr/process/student-conduct-honor-code/.

**NETIQUETTE: COMMUNICATION COURTESY: All members of the class are expected to follow rules of common courtesy in all email messages, threaded discussions and chats.

http://teach.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/NetiquetteGuideforOnlineCourses.pdf

COURSE EVALUATION: Students are expected to provide professional and respectful feedback on the quality of instruction in this course by completing course evaluations online via GatorEvals. Guidance on how to give feedback in a professional and respectful manner is available at https://gatorevals.aa.ufl.edu/students/ (Links to an external site.). Students will be notified when the evaluation period opens, and can complete evaluations through the email they receive from GatorEvals, in their Canvas course menu under GatorEvals, or via https://ufl.bluera.com/ufl/ . Summaries of course evaluation results are available to students at https://gatorevals.aa.ufl.edu/public-results/ .

 

HEALTH & WELLNESS

U Matter, We Care: If you or a friend is in distress, please contact umatter@ufl.edu or 352
392- 1575 so that a team member can reach out to the student.
Counseling and Wellness Center: https://counseling.ufl.edu/, 392-1575; and the University
Police Department: 392-1111 or 9-1-1 for emergencies.
Sexual Assault Recovery Services (SARS): Student Health Care Center, 392-1161.
University Police Department: 392-1111 (or 9-1-1 for emergencies).
http://www.police.ufl.edu/ (Links to an external site.)

ACADEMIC RESOURCES

E-learning technical support, 352-392-4357 (select option 2) or e-mail to Learningsupport@ufl.edu. https://lss.at.ufl.edu/help.shtml.
Career Connections Center, Reitz Union, 392-1601. Career assistance and counseling.
https://career.ufl.edu/
Library Support, http://cms.uflib.ufl.edu/ask. Various ways to receive assistance with
respect to using the libraries or finding resources.

Teaching Center, Broward Hall, 392-2010 or 392-6420. General study skills and
tutoring. http://teachingcenter.ufl.edu/
Writing Studio, 302 Tigert Hall, 846-1138. Help brainstorming, formatting, and writing
papers. http://writing.ufl.edu/writing-studio/
Student Complaints On-Campus: https://sccr.dso.ufl.edu/policies/student-honorcode-student-conduct-code/

University Honesty Policy

UF students are bound by The Honor Pledge which states, “We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honor and integrity by abiding by the Honor Code. On all work submitted for credit by students at the University of Florida, the following pledge is either required or implied: “On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment.” The Honor Code (https://www.dso.ufl.edu/sccr/process/student-conduct-honor-code/) specifies a number of behaviors that are in violation of this code and the possible sanctions. Furthermore, you are obligated to report any condition that facilitates academic misconduct to appropriate personnel. If you have any questions or concerns, please consult with the instructor or TAs in this class.

 

Software Use

All faculty, staff, and students of the University are required and expected to obey the laws and legal agreements governing software use.  Failure to do so can lead to monetary damages and/or criminal penalties for the individual violator.  Because such violations are also against University policies and rules, disciplinary action will be taken as appropriate.  We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to uphold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honesty and integrity.

 

Student Privacy

There are federal laws protecting your privacy with regards to grades earned in courses and on individual assignments.  For more information, please see:  http://registrar.ufl.edu/catalog0910/policies/regulationferpa.html

Links to privacy policy of  Mastering Physics (Links to an external site.).

Accessibility Policy: Links to  Mastering Physics (Links to an external site.) policies.  https://accessibility.ufl.edu/

Academic Support for UFO

UF Grading Policy

Campus Resources:

Health and Wellness

U Matter, We Care:

If you or a friend is in distress, please contact umatter@ufl.edu or 352 392-1575 so that a team member can reach out to the student.

 

Counseling and Wellness Center: http://www.counseling.ufl.edu/cwc, and  392-1575; and the University Police Department: 392-1111 or 9-1-1 for emergencies.

 

Sexual Assault Recovery Services (SARS)

Student Health Care Center, 392-1161.

 

University Police Department at 392-1111 (or 9-1-1 for emergencies), or http://www.police.ufl.edu/.

 

Academic Resources

E-learning technical support, 352-392-4357 (select option 2) or e-mail to Learning-support@ufl.edu. https://lss.at.ufl.edu/help.shtml.

Career Resource Center, Reitz Union, 392-1601.  Career assistance and counseling. https://www.crc.ufl.edu/.

Library Support, http://cms.uflib.ufl.edu/ask. Various ways to receive assistance with respect to using the libraries or finding resources.

Teaching Center, Broward Hall, 392-2010 or 392-6420. General study skills and tutoring. https://teachingcenter.ufl.edu/.

Writing Studio, 302 Tigert Hall, 846-1138. Help brainstorming, formatting, and writing papers. https://writing.ufl.edu/writing-studio/.

Student Complaints Campus: https://www.dso.ufl.edu/documents/UF_Complaints_policy.pdf.

Tentative Schedule

Date	Instructor	p4	In Class 2004/2005
1/10	SK	Orientation -  Syllabus
1/17	SK	Pedagogy: Effective Teachers - attributes Your goals & reflection log Prep: 1. Group formation/intro activity. Roles/contact details in groups. 2. Design a rubric for feedback on  sample small group problem solving in physics
1/24	SK	Pedagogy: Know Your Student, Diversity and inclusion, planning for inclusion.  Prep: 1. GW1 pitfalls/solutions/alterations. Potential scaffolding questions 2. Feedback discussion. 3. Working through Draft GW1 - 2004, 2005 in same groups as wk 2.
1/31	SK	Pedagogy: Learning Outcomes Prep:  - Visit Student Learning Outcomes for the course and seek alignment - Feedback on best way to prep for GW2	GW1 Submit Feedback by Monday, Feb. 3rd.
2/07	SK	Pedagogy: Blooms Taxonomy & Determining Student Ideas Prep: 1. Reflection on GW1 - lessons learned. 2. GW2 Draft: pitfalls/solutions/alterations. Potential scaffolding questions.
2/14	SK	Pedagogy: Questions and Question Strategies. Scaffolding & Formative Assessment Prep: 1. Collating one Finalized Feedback Rubric. 2. Designing Exam 1 review questions. Due Monday, Feb. 17th.	GW2 Submit Feedback by Monday, Feb. 17th.
2/21	KM	Pedagogy: Mental Models: Learning Theory Prep: 1. Breaking down misconceptions in terms of mental models.	Exam 1 Proctoring
2/28	KM	Pedagogy: Deepening Student Engagement Prep: 1. Analyze questions missed on Exam 1. work these into new questions for future GW.
3/06	N/A	Spring Break
3/13	KM	Pedagogy: Differentiated Instruction. Prep: 1. GW3: pitfalls/solutions/alterations. Potential scaffolding questions.	GW3 Submit Feedback by Monday, Mar. 16th.
3/20	KM	Pedagogy:PER content related discussion. Prep: 1. Reflection on GW3 - lessons learned.
3/27	KM	Pedagogy: Formative Assessment Prep: 1. GW4 2. pitfalls/solutions/alterations. Potential scaffolding questions 3. Prepare Exam 2 review questions. Due Monday, Mar. 30th.	GW4 Submit Feedback by Monday, Mar. 30th.
4/03	KM	Pedagogy: Presentations by LAs on their learning in the course.  Prep: 1. Reflection on GW4 - lessons learned. Redesign the GW4.	Exam 2 Proctoring
4/10	KM	Pedagogy: Presentations by LAs on their learning in the course.  Prep: 1. Analyze questions missed on Exam 2. work these into new questions for GW5 2.GW5: pitfalls/solutions/alterations. Potential scaffolding questions
4/17	SK + KM	Pedagogy: TBA Prep: 1. LA survey on program improvement and feedback.	Submit Feedback by Monday, April 20th.

 

Disclaimer: This syllabus represents our current plans and objectives. As we go through the semester, those plans may need to change to enhance the learning opportunities in the class. Such changes, communicated clearly, are not unusual and should be expected, and this syllabus will be updated accordingly.