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

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

Oct 25, 2023 241 likes •365 views

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

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Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

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 Learning Centers

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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.

Rutgers Learning Assistant Program

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Traditional

Students

This instructor wants to be doing more active learning!

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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
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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

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How are courses “transformed”?

Traditional

Students

Transformed

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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

  • f them.”
  • Dr. Asa Rennermalm

Associate Professor Department of Geography Undergraduate Program Director

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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

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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.”

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What makes a Learning Assistant?

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Three Essential Elements

Rutgers Learning Assistant Program

PRACTICE: LAs have contact time with students in lecture, lab, recitation, or study group PEDAGOGY: LAs co-enroll in Peer Instructor Education course CONTENT: LAs have weekly staff meetings with faculty of the course they are supporting Learning Centers

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Three Essential Elements

Rutgers Learning Assistant Program

PRACTICE: LAs have contact time with students in lecture, lab, recitation, or study group PEDAGOGY: LAs co-enroll in Peer Instructor Education course CONTENT: LAs have weekly staff meetings with faculty of the course they are supporting

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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

Rutgers Learning Assistant Program

Learning Centers

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Three Essential Elements

Rutgers Learning Assistant Program

PRACTICE: LAs have contact time with students in lecture, lab, recitation, or study group PEDAGOGY: LAs co-enroll in Peer Instructor Education course CONTENT: LAs have weekly staff meetings with faculty of the course they are supporting

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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

Rutgers Learning Assistant Program

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What LAs do not do:

  • At Rutgers, LAs do not:

–Hold 1-on-1 tutoring or office hours –Grade –Proctor

Rutgers Learning Assistant Program

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Benefits of LA Program

Faculty Support for their students Dialog with Learning Assistants LAs Leadership skills Stipend of $1500 a semester Students Collaborative learning environment Near-peer in educator role

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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

Rutgers Learning Assistant Program

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Growth of LA Program at Rutgers

Rutgers Learning Assistant Program

10 20 30 40 50 60 50 100 150 200 250 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Number of Courses Number of LAs

Academic Year

Growth of LA Program at Rutgers

Number of LAs Number of courses

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Learning Assistant timeline

Faculty Applications open

(November – late January 2018) https://rlc.rutgers.edu/student-info/group-and-individual- academic-support/learning-assistant-program

Faculty Applications open

(November – late January 2018) https://rlc.rutgers.edu/student-info/group-and-individual- academic-support/learning-assistant-program

Faculty Advisory Board approves courses for LAs February 2018 Faculty Advisory Board approves courses for LAs February 2018 Students apply to be LAs February – March 2018 Students apply to be LAs February – March 2018 Interviews & Hiring for ‘18-’19 year March - May 2018 Interviews & Hiring for ‘18-’19 year March - May 2018

Rutgers Learning Assistant Program

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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/

Rutgers Learning Assistant Program

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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/