How Learning Assistants Can Help Foster Active Learning Dr. Alice - PDF document

5/17/2018 Learning Centers How Learning Assistants Can Help Foster Active Learning Dr. Alice Seneres alice.seneres@rutgers.edu Director of Integrated Academic Support Programs Learning Centers https://rlc.rutgers.edu/student-info/group-and-individual- academic-support/learning-assistant-program Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 1 Learning Centers Learning Assistant Program • The Learning Assistant Program is a national program developed at University of Colorado, Boulder. • Learning Assistants (LAs) are students who work with faculty to create collaborative learning environments. 2 Rutgers Learning Assistant Program 1

5/17/2018 Learning Centers Traditional This instructor wants to be doing more active learning! Students 3 Learning Centers Active Learning When you are one instructor in a room with students, it is a challenge to: • Approach all of the groups • Address every question that comes up • Facilitate learning and ensure everyone is on track 4 2

5/17/2018 Learning Centers Learning Assistant Program • Learning Assistants – Undergraduate students – Earned a B+ or an A in the course – Hired in a future semester to be a Learning Assistant for that course – Will work with the instructor or TA in lecture, lab, recitation, or leading a study group 5 Learning Centers How are courses “transformed”? Transformed Traditional Students 6 3

5/17/2018 Learning Centers Faculty Quote “I knew the LA program would be a great learning experience for the LA's themselves and also allow me to incorporate more active learning tools in my classroom with 200 students. What I did not expect was how much I learned from the feedback from my LAs. Throughout the course, they have provided me with thoughtful constructive suggestions and how to better communicate with students. I have used many of their suggestions in my lectures and the course is improved because of them.” Dr. Asa Rennermalm Associate Professor Department of Geography Undergraduate Program Director 7 Learning Centers LA Quotes “Being a learning assistant has been one of my favorite experiences at Rutgers over the last 4 years. It's something I always look forward to every week.” - Zac “This position has definitely opened doors for me and I have learned how to be a better learner and better facilitator this past year.” - Sarah 8 4

5/17/2018 Learning Centers Student Quote “A.was the best LA ever. She was genuinely passionate about making sure we understood concepts. She has inspired me to also pursue a double major in math and computer science and to be a LA next year.” 9 Learning Centers What makes a Learning Assistant? 10 5

5/17/2018 Learning Centers Three Essential Elements PRACTICE: CONTENT: LAs have LAs have contact time weekly staff with students in meetings with lecture, lab, faculty of the recitation, or course they are study group supporting PEDAGOGY: LAs co-enroll in Peer Instructor Education course 11 Rutgers Learning Assistant Program Learning Centers Three Essential Elements PRACTICE: CONTENT: LAs have LAs have contact time weekly staff with students in meetings with lecture, lab, faculty of the recitation, or course they are study group supporting PEDAGOGY: LAs co-enroll in Peer Instructor Education course 12 Rutgers Learning Assistant Program 6

5/17/2018 Learning Centers Content Prep Meetings • Meet weekly with faculty of the course • Review material that will be coming up • Discuss the material recently covered in the course –LAs may have insight into student questions or issues • Dialogue between LAs and faculty for benefit of students 13 Rutgers Learning Assistant Program Learning Centers Three Essential Elements PRACTICE: CONTENT: LAs have LAs have contact time weekly staff with students in meetings with lecture, lab, faculty of the recitation, or course they are study group supporting PEDAGOGY: LAs co-enroll in Peer Instructor Education course 14 Rutgers Learning Assistant Program 7

5/17/2018 Learning Centers Pedagogy: • At Rutgers, LAs take a 300-level, 3 credit Peer Instructor Education course –Topics include •Effective Questioning •Metacognition •Cooperative Learning •Diversity –Assignments include •Teaching Philosophy statement •Interview Project •Weekly reading quizzes 15 Rutgers Learning Assistant Program Learning Centers What LAs do not do: • At Rutgers, LAs do not: –Hold 1-on-1 tutoring or office hours –Grade –Proctor 16 Rutgers Learning Assistant Program 8

5/17/2018 Learning Centers Benefits of LA Program Faculty LAs Students Support for Leadership Collaborative their students skills learning environment Dialog with Stipend of Learning $1500 a Near-peer in Assistants semester educator role 17 Learning Centers LA Program is centralized in the Learning Centers •The LCs provides the following support to departments: •Teach pedagogy course and provide professional development training •Coordinate LA applications, interviewing, hiring •Employment on-boarding and weekly payroll •Coordinate assignments and LA schedules 18 Rutgers Learning Assistant Program 9

5/17/2018 Learning Centers Growth of LA Program at Rutgers Growth of LA Program at Rutgers 250 60 50 200 Number of Courses Number of LAs 40 150 30 100 20 50 10 0 0 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Academic Year Number of LAs Number of courses 19 Rutgers Learning Assistant Program Learning Centers Learning Assistant timeline Faculty Applications open Faculty Applications open (November – late January 2018) (November – late January 2018) https://rlc.rutgers.edu/student-info/group-and-individual- https://rlc.rutgers.edu/student-info/group-and-individual- academic-support/learning-assistant-program academic-support/learning-assistant-program Faculty Advisory Board approves Faculty Advisory Board approves courses for LAs courses for LAs February 2018 February 2018 Students apply to be LAs Students apply to be LAs February – March 2018 February – March 2018 Interviews & Hiring for ‘18-’19 year Interviews & Hiring for ‘18-’19 year March - May 2018 March - May 2018 20 Rutgers Learning Assistant Program 10

5/17/2018 Learning Centers Interested in having LAs in your course? •If you teach at Rutgers-New Brunswick: –Please fill out this interest form: https://tinyurl.com/yaxkpzga • If you teach at another school: –Reach out to me and I can let you know if there is an LA Program at that school! (alice.seneres@rutgers.edu) –Consult the LA Alliance website https://www.learningassistantalliance.org/ 21 Rutgers Learning Assistant Program Learning Centers Questions? Dr. Alice Seneres alice.seneres@rutgers.edu 848-445-1662 https://rlc.rutgers.edu/services/learning-assistant- program/information-faculty Learning Assistant Alliance website: https://www.learningassistantalliance.org/ 22 11