PrairieLearn Assessment Support Assistant

LDT need a student worker with specific qualifications to assist in the the Prairie Assessment tests.

The PrairieLearn Assessment Support Assistant will support faculty and instructional design efforts related to the use of PrairieLearn and PrairieTest for assessment delivery in the College of Arts & Sciences. Under close supervision, the student will assist with the technical implementation, testing, and quality assurance of assessment questions, particularly those involving parameterized or programmatically generated items. This position focuses on technical development and testing, while pedagogical decisions and assessment design remain the responsibility of faculty and instructional design staff.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist with building and testing PrairieLearn questions, including parameterized and randomized question types. 

• Implement question logic (primarily in Python) based on provided specifications. 

• Test questions for correctness, robustness, and edge cases (e.g., boundary values, formatting, unintended behavior.) 

• Assist in converting existing faculty assessments (e.g., PDFs, Word documents) into PrairieLearncompatible formats. 

• Review questions from a student perspective to identify clarity, usability, or technical issues. 

• Flag potential assessment or implementation concerns for supervisor review. 

• Help maintain example questions and lightweight documentation for faculty use. 

• Participate in the Assessment Redesign Workshop (May 12–13) as part of onboarding and training. 

Required Qualifications:

• Current University of Virginia student (undergraduate or graduate.) 
• Programming experience, especially Python. 
• Ability to read, understand, and troubleshoot code written by others 
• Strong attention to detail and willingness to test technical systems thoroughly. 
• Ability to follow clearly defined specifications and work under supervision. 
• Professional communication skills. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with PrairieLearn, PrairieTest, or similar assessment platforms. 
• STEM coursework or experience with quantitative problem-solving. 
• Familiarity with Markdown, LaTeX, HTML, or structured text formats. 
• Prior experience as a TA, tutor, grader, or exam support staff. 
• Experience supporting or proctoring exams (e.g., CBTF or similar environments.) 
• Students with experience supporting CBTF exam proctoring are encouraged to apply; however, the position is not limited to those students.

Duties will vary according to position.

Undergrad student wage position for less than 20 hours per week.

**Federal Work-Study students encouraged to apply.**

Compensation: $17/hour.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education: Current undergrad or graduate UVA student
Experience: None
Licensure: None

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.