Job Description

Overview:

The STEM Learning Assistant (LA) will serve as a formal support to a classroom instructor in a STEM course during the Fall 2026 semester at Oakton. They will be assigned to a Supervising Instructor according to their schedule availability and previous educational history and disciplinary interest. The student in this role will receive training by attending an orientation session in the week prior to the start of the semester, 4 leadership training sessions throughout the semester, a weekly 1 hour long prep session with their supervising instructor, and taking a Pedagogy Course (EDN 110) that meets weekly on Fridays at a time to be determined. All trainings will be compensated at the hourly wage, except for the cost of attending EDN 110, which will be waived. A typical week includes attending all face to face class and/or lab sessions. During these sessions, the LA will engage students through questioning and discussion, and assist students during group and other classroom activities. The LA may also conduct tutoring sessions, discussion forums, or other activities to support student learning and awareness of their community cultural wealth. As part of their training, LAs will carry out several assignments related to pedagogy and leadership in the classroom they serve.

Campus Location:

Skokie or Des Plaines

Length of Employment:

Employment for the entire Spring 2027 semester. Returning LAs do not need to take EDN 290 a second time.

Can a student do homework in this position?

Never

Hours Available:

5-10 hrs/week

Schedule Flexibility:

Flexible, at the discretion of the assigned supervising instructor.

Duties and Responsibilities and Learning Outcomes :

-Perform accepted assignments as described by their classroom instructor and Job Supervisor (PF, TW, CM, CD)

• Support student learning during classroom sessions and tutoring or office hours (CD, CT, LD, TC, PF)
• Participate in activities to develop classroom efficacy and leadership skills (EI, PF, CM, LD)
• Communicate with classroom instructor and supervisor regarding challenges or issues and collaborate to find resolutions (CM, CT, EI, TW)
• Plan and facilitate instructional interventions for the classroom setting (CD, CM, CT, TW, TC)
• Plan and facilitate instructional interventions for individual students, as needed (CD, CM, CT)

Student Employment Learning Outcomes Defined:

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has identified 8 career readiness competencies that broadly prepare college students for a successful transition into the workplace. Listed in alphabetical order, they include:

1. Career and Self-Development (CD)
2. Communication (CM)
3. Critical Thinking (CT)
4. Equity and Inclusion (EI)
5. Leadership (LD)
6. Professionalism (PF)
7. Teamwork (TW)
8. Technology (TC)

For more information about the NACE Career Readiness Competencies, please visit www.naceweb.org/career-readiness/competencies/career-readiness-defined/.

Candidate Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Other abilities):

• Must have completed the course to which they are assigned as LAs with a grade of B or above
• Able to stand and sit for extended periods of time.
• Demonstrated reliability and responsibility.
• Friendly, flexible, organized, courteous, and punctuality a must.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills with strong detail orientation preferred.
• Proficiency and experience using Microsoft Office and Google technology (GSUITE) preferred.
• Must have an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher and be in good standing at Oakton College.
• Eligible to work in the United States.

-Demonstrated ability to work independently.

Application Process:

All interested applicants should create a student account using their oakton.edu email address at learningassistantalliance.org and then apply to be an LA for the course in which they wish to serve using the application process provided at that site. Once the assignment to the course and instructor is made through that process, the student will be directed to submit their student employee application online. The start date will be the beginning of the Spring 2027 semester for all LAs in STEM classes. Contact Dr. James Rabchuk at jrabchuk@oakton.edu with any questions.