Faculty eSeries: LA Model Foundations

LA Model Foundations is a series of virtual workshops intended for those unfamiliar with the LA model or who may be interested in starting an LA program. Those who are familiar with the LA Model are welcome to participate and it can be helpful to bring a colleague with you who is new to the model. The faculty pathway consists of three workshops: Essential Elements of the LA Model, Transforming your course with LAs, and What is the Weekly Prep Meeting? After completing the series, participants will be well-versed in the essential elements of the LA model, will understand the resources and benefits of being a member of the LA Alliance, and will have a strong foundation to incorporate LAs into their teaching teams. Terms and Conditions.


Essential Elements of the LA Model

The three key components of the Learning Assistant Model are: LAs facilitating student interactions in class, participating in weekly content preparation meetings with the instructional team, and engaging in a pedagogy course. Workshop participants will consider the coordination and synergy between the different elements of the LA experience and discuss how the LA Model is similar to, or different from, other peer models, such as Supplemental Instruction (SI) and peer tutoring programs.

Participants will be able to:

  • describe the basic tenets of the LA model
  • apply the tenets of the LA model to the development of their LA Program and institutional contexts
  • compare the LA model to other peer models, and
  • identify the resources and community available through the Learning Assistant Alliance.

Registration
Cost: $50
Time: 90 minutes (75-minute workshop plus 15 minutes of Q&A as needed)
Dates offered: Choose one

  • Friday, April 19, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm PDT | 12:30 - 2:00 pm MDT | 1:30 - 3:00 pm CDT | 2:30 - 4:00 pm EDT
  • Tuesday, April 30, 9:00 - 10:30 am PDT | 10:00 - 11:30 am MDT | 11:00 am - 12:30 pm CDT | 12:00 - 1:30 pm EDT


Transforming your Course with LAs

Participants will consider concrete examples of students engaging in the messy work of collaboratively learning with their peers. Participants will work together to: (a) identify important characteristics of group-worthy activities, (b) consider the role of the LAs in helping students make sense of ideas, (c) consider the role of the faculty in creating an environment that supports students to feel comfortable engaging in productive collaborative learning.

Prerequisites: Essential Elements of the LA Model

Participants will be able to:

  • outline the process needed to engage LAs as collaborators in their teaching
  • adapt their courses to effectively incorporate LAs into their teaching teams 
  • increase active learning in their classrooms

Registration
Cost: $50
Time: 75 minutes
Dates offered: Choose one

  • Monday, May 6, 10:00 - 11:15 am PDT | 11:00 am - 12:15 pm MDT | 12:00 - 1:15 pm CDT | 1:00 - 2:15 pm EDT


What is the Weekly Prep Session?

Weekly preparation sessions help the teaching team reflect on the past week, prepare LAs for the upcoming week and build community. This session focuses on key elements of the weekly prep session, includes video examples, and provides a template to help participants think about and plan their own weekly prep session. Participants will identify the essential goals and features of their prep session, who will attend the weekly prep session, and the roles the attendees will take.  Participants will identify strategies and best-practices for creating an inclusive and positive community dynamic within their teaching teams.

Prerequisites: Essential Elements of the LA Model

Participants will be able to:

  • describe the importance, goals, and fundamental elements of the weekly prep sessions,
  • identify best-practices to create and foster an engaging and empowering dynamic within their individual teaching teams, and
  • identify the resources available through the Learning Assistant Alliance.

Registration
Cost: $50
Time: 75 minutes
Dates offered: Choose one

  • Monday, May 6, 12:00 - 1:15 pm PDT | 1:00 - 2:15 pm MDT | 2:00 - 3:15 pm CDT | 3:00 - 4:15 pm EDT