Learning assistants at HF
Learning assistants are students with subject knowledge and pedagogical training who support other students’ learning. Learn more about learning assistants, and how and why they should contribute to teaching.
A group of learning assistants gathered in front of the Faculty of Humanities. Photo: UiO.
What does a learning assistant do?
Learning assistants contribute to closer follow-up, improved student well-being, and higher completion rates. Here are examples of one or more tasks that learning assistants perform:
- Lead study groups
- Facilitate group work
- Create assignments and provide guidance
- Review assignments and give feedback
- Exam preparation
- Organize academic and social activities
Division of responsibilities
Administrative responsibility: Departments
The departments are responsible for their learning assistants, including hiring and regular support. The departments must ensure that they
- design job postings and publish them through appropriate channels
- recruit and hire learning assistants
- provide learning assistants with a contact person
- offer information about contracts and pay
- provide information about working hours: scope, timing, and duration
- ensure that learning assistants receive training
- provide academic and administrative support for learning assistants
- determine the tasks that learning assistants will perform
- specify the subjects to which learning assistants will be assigned
Academic support: Educators
Educators have a special responsibility to ensure that learning assistants
- are involved in the teaching activities and receive specific tasks
- have a academic contact person
- receive subject-specific training
Training: HF:Studio
HF:Studio offers these training-activities for all learning assistants at the beginning of each semester:
- Pedagogical and technical training opportunities
- Training in academic writing
- Gatherings throughout the semester for support and sharing experiences between learning assistants across departments and subjects