General Advice for Technology Learning Assistants

General Advice

• It's alright to say "I don't know how to do that" or "I don't understand what you mean."
• It's a good idea to say "I don't know, but I'll try to find out by our next meeting."
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Technology Learning Assistants should tell their faculty clients if they have a friend in the class that the faculty teaches.
• Acknowledge and respect differences.
• Solve problems before they become emergencies.
• Be polite, respectful, conscientious; put your best foot forward!

Some Ideas to Consider

• It may be helpful for a Technology Learning Assistant to attend a class of their faculty clients.
• Faculty will want to provide a Technology Learning Assistant with course syllabus and perhaps a copy of the text and other course materials.

What to do When Disaster Strikes

I'm sick; can't get to a meeting.

• Have a preplanned solution for last minute contact.
• Have both a regular and emergency plan for contact between the Technology Learning Assistant and Faculty Partner. Perhaps have a third-party contact along with the emergency plan.

Boo! Hoo! I lost a file.

• Backups. Backups.
• Contact your local Help desk
• Contact helpdesk@psu.edu
  • University Park: Willard Building and Computer Building restore damaged disks.
  • Other campuses (to be added)
• Save your own and faculty creations in more than one location.

I got impatient or lost my temper.

• Acknowledge
• Apologize
• Reflect on how to avert the problem in the future.