2015 TEAm Grant Innovations Convening – Tampa, FL

Undergraduate Learning Assistants Program

Mark Allen WeissFlorida International University

April 18, 2015, 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

TEAm Grant Innovations ConveningTampa, FL

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Learning Assistant (LA) Model

• Transformation of instructional practices across the STEM disciplines has entailed establishing the undergraduate Learning Assistant (LA) program at FIU, based on a model developed by University of Colorado, Boulder.

• The LA Model– Experiential teaching program in which LAs experience

the reward of teaching by facilitating their peers’ learning in undergraduate courses and serves as a recruitment tool for STEM teachers.

– Faculty and institutional change are at the core of the LA program, as faculty must incorporate active learning into their courses to merit LA support.

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FIU Learning Assistant Program

• Over the past 6½ years, FIU became the nation’s largest LA program

• Supporting 182 LAs, across 9 disciplines and over 40 faculty in Spring 2015.

• The LA program has become central to FIU’s STEM education identity.

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LAs in Physics Courses

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IT Learning Assistants

• All sections of COP-2250 (Intro Programming for IT majors)

• Instructor Cristy Charters (hired with TEAm funds)

• 180 students, 12 LAs

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LA Program for CS

• What is the Role of an LA• How to Become an LA• Benefits of Being an LA

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What is the Role of an LA

• To Provide– Peer Guidance in the Classroom– Peer Assistance during Lab time– Feedback to Instructor

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Peer Guidance in Class

• Help find path to solution, without giving answer• Help understand concept first, rather than just

the correct solution• Listen to students’ concerns, alleviate their

worries• Motivate students to do better• Serve as an intermediary between students and

instructor• Create a professional learning community• Facilitate Active Learning

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Peer Assistance During Lab Time

• Provide one-on-one assistance to students

• Proctor chapter quizzes• Provide clarification of difficult concepts• Identify common misconceptions of

concepts and assignments– Provide additional tutoring as needed– Provide encouragement to persevere in

problem-solving

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Feedback to Instructor

• During Weekly Status Meetings– What concepts did students grasp and what concepts did they struggle

with– Contribute to the creation of the following week’s lesson plans

• Create Programming Exercises• Identify Resources to facilitate learning• Come up with ways of presenting concepts

– Practice the planned assignments, to ensure their effectiveness

• During & After Labs– Informally, verbally communicate problem areas needing further

review– Gather feedback from students on their successes/failures in chapter

quizzes– Advise students on how to better prepare themselves for future

assessments

• After Class Lectures/Active Learning – Identify what active learning activities were effective & what were

lacking– Identify specific students that may need individual attention

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How to Become an LA• Undergraduate students apply online at:

– www.fiulearn.fiu.edu

• Candidates are interviewed by LA Director & Instructor:– Determine level of mastery of content area for class using LA’s.

• Evaluate transcript of candidate, especially for mastery level of course to be an LA.

– Evaluate the candidate’s interpersonal skills• Willingness to reach out to struggling students• Patience, Politeness, Responsibility, Punctuality• Confidence to communicate with other LA’s and instructor

– Coordinate availability of candidate• To schedule of course’s offering & weekly status meetings

– Willingness to register for the LA Seminar, a 1-credit course on Education.– Pass background check, and eligibility to work.– Requirement not to work second job, nor FIU work study beyond a total of 20

hours bi-weekly. • Ability to handle LA work and studies• Ability to get paid 20 hours bi-weekly

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Benefits of Being an LA• Develops Confidence

– Interpersonal skills– Content area– Teaching ability

• Develops Leadership Skills– More planning abilities – Better organizational skills– Project management skills– Becoming more responsible

• Networking– Meeting experts in field of Active Learning– Getting involved in the STEM Transformation Institute– Potential for conducting research on education

• Asset to each LA’s Resume• A convenient source of income for an undergrad student

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Additional Benefits

• Learning Assistants scale: more students mean more learning assistants

• Students gain experiences valued comparably to internships

• Students get paid, but do work on campus: easier to schedule their other classes

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Future LAs

• Fall 2015 will use LAs in some sections of COP-2210 (Intro Programming course for CS majors and IT Software majors)– Instructor newly hired from TEAm funds– Will use new active learning rooms in PG6– Will conduct a scientific study

• Will also use LAs in selected sections of COP-3804 (second programming course for IT majors)

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Challenges

• Setting up LA program is significant work for faculty

• Active learning rooms in short supply• Funding

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More Information on LA Program

• http://STEM.fiu.edu• http://FIULearn.fiu.edu

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Thank You!