From: Charles Chiu

Professor of Physics

Faculty coordinator for 303L-MI curriculum.

Re: LA applications for Phys303K/L-MI, Spring 2013

Nov 11, 2012

Dear 303L students,

Below is an announcement from Professor Greg O. Sitz on the LA applications for spring 2013. 

To quality to be an LA for Phys303K/L- MI ( Phys303K/L using the Matter & Interactions textbook),  the applicant can be either a current physics major or an alumnus/alumna of 303K/L-MI.

If you are doing well in the current Phys303L-MI class, we encourage you to apply for the LA position for 303K/L-MI, Spring2013 . You may download the application form using the link adjacent to this announcement. I will be glad to answer your questions concerning the LA position.

Thank you for your attention,

Charles Chiu

.

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Feom: Greg O. Sitz

Professor of Physics and Undergraduate Advisor

Re: LA applications for Spring 2013

Dear Undergraduates,

For the past several semesters, the Department of Physics has been able to offer a number of "Learning Assistant" positions to undergraduate physics majors to assist with lower-division classes.  These positions have partnered upper-level majors with graduate assistants and faculty, and the undergraduate assistants performed a variety of tasks ranging from helping in the laboratories, helping students with homework in recitation sections, and assisting with in-class problems during lectures.  Next semester, the Department of Physics will be able to continue this program, and we would like you to consider applying for one of these positions.

The benefits of doing one of these internships are four-fold:  

(1) One never learns material as well as when one is teaching it; all the faculty say this, and it's really true.  By working on the instructional team for one of the lower-division classes, you will significantly reinforce your knowledge of mechanics, E&M, waves, etc‑this is obviously a benefit as you go through the upper-division classes and take the GRE, etc.

(2) You will be acting as mentors to newer physics students and helping build the community of learners in this Department; our newest students will truly benefit from your 'senior statesman' guidance and advice, and you will undoubtedly enjoy getting to know more of your classmates here in the department besides the two or three people you may study with most frequently.  

(3) You will greatly improve the instruction of lower-division courses because you know, firsthand, the struggles that students face better than any faculty member; we value input from experienced undergrads like yourselves on what's hard, what's easy, etc.  

(4) Such positions are unusual in any department and a good resume builder in a variety of future job or graduate application contexts; what future employer wouldn't take note of a junior or senior in whom the faculty have placed their trust?

Those interested should submit the attached application to Lisa Gentry via email at ugaffairs@physics.utexas.edu or in person, RLM 5.216, no later than Friday, November 30, 2012. Applicants can be either a current physics major or an alumnus/alumna of the lower-division physics classes (PHY 301, 302K/L, 303K/L, 309K/L, 315, 316, 317K/L) or our upper-division course, PHY 355. In an effort to streamline our LA application process, you must turn in your application no later than the deadline indicated above for full consideration (NO EXCEPTIONS).

 First time LAs for Physics courses will be required to enroll in a section of NSC 109 (SMNR: INQUIRY-BASED TCH METHS). Two sections will be offered in Spring 2013, #47700, T 5-6 and #47703, F 9-10 . If you have previously been employed as an LA or will be an LA for P S 303 or 304, you are not required to take NSC 109 in Spring 2013.

I very much hope you will consider this significant opportunity to contribute to your own education and the educational mission of this department.  If I can aid in your consideration of this idea, I am happy to meet with you to answer questions.

Sincerely,

Greg O. Sitz