Teaching at the Lawrence Hall of Science

For a number of years the Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS) has given undergraduates IB 95 units for teaching at the LHS. UC students take part in the various classes offered by LHS and teach either on campus or in the local schools. The staff at LHS would like to include qualified 1B students in this program. You should be taking or have completed Biology 1B (or have AP or equivalent credits). In the teaching program at the LHS you will get one (1) 95 unit for every three hours/week of work. This means you would normally teach one class per week. You would be given credit for the time it takes for you to help set up the class, the one hour class and the time necessary to clean up.

You are not directly responsible for course material or all the teaching of the class. You are there to help one of the staff teachers. The LHS has numerous programs in the sciences. The courses which most biology undergraduates work in are the programs given by the Biology section. This section has various arrangements with local (and not so local) school districts. The catalogue from LHS lists numerous courses for school children. The school will contract with LHS to either bring their students there or the staff will go to the school. If you wanted to work at the LHS you would commit to a time period that a class was being given (e.g. Monday 9-12). During this time period you may teach the same class to different students or the class subject material may change from week to week. The other possibility is that you would go to the school with the staff. In this case you would be gone most of the day. However, if you were gone for six hours per trip, you would only have to do this half the semester or you could get two (2) IB 95 units. This program has proven to be helpful for the LHS staff and popular among the undergraduates who have taken part. We only ask that, if you commit to a class you are able to fulfill this commitment.

It is easy to get to the LHS. The same shuttle that takes you to the UC Botanical Garden takes you to the LHS. It leaves from the Mining Circle at 15 and 45 minutes after the hour, and returns on the hour and half hour.

Normally we arrange to meet with Heidi Schnabel at the beginning of the semester. She will tell you about the program and what opportunities are available at certain time periods. This opportunity is announced in the Bio 1B lab manual and at the beginning of the semester in class. If you are unsure of the LHS schedule and want to plan your class schedule to be sure to get one of their classes, please contact Heidi. Also, they need students to work in the summer.

This experience would be very valuable to anyone interested in teaching biology or who just like working with children from the community. If you think that you might be interested in this program, please give Mike Moser, Coordinator for Biology 1B, 2013 VLSB, your name, address and phone number and e-mail. (Also, please e-mail Mike Moser a note letting him know you are interested. You need to begin to work at the LHS within the first few weeks of the semester in order to get full IB 95 credit. The undergraduate students who have worked with the school children at the LHS have found it very rewarding.

LHS Teaching Application Form

Undergraduate Student Instructor (UGSI) Program

The Undergraduate Student Instructor (UGSI) program has been very successful in Biology 1B. It allows undergraduate students who are interested in biology to obtain teaching experience. The UGSI is in a unique position. They have usually just had Biology 1B and have done well in the class. They are familiar with material and have an understanding of the class from the students' point of view. The UGSI is valuable because they can share their experiences in the class and they help the GSI in the laboratory exercises.

We have a weekly GSI (Graduate Student Instructor) meeting from 2-5 PM on Friday afternoon. As a UGSI, you will get two 194 units for assisting in lab and attending the GSI meeting. Your grade will be Pass/No Pass. If you are interested, contact your GSI. Your GSI should discuss the position with you. The GSI you work with as a UGSI will be the person writing your letters of recommendation and a faculty member will co-sign.

We will have an organization meeting the week before class starts. You should have your schedule by then and will be asked to give Mike Moser several possible times you can work. There is an application form below. Please fill it out and submit it. Also, please email Mike Moser to tell him you have submitted the form.

UGSI Application Form



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