1. Dr. Timothy Burg Cole Causey Director Office of STEM Education
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Dr. Timothy Burg
Director
Office of STEM Education
Cole Causey
Learning Specialist
USG STEM Summit 2017
May 18th, 2017
Middle Georgia State University

2. Goal 2 being addressed through Peer Learning Assistant (PLA) program
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Introduction to USG STEM Initiative Goals
Increase the number of K-12 students interested in STEM
Improve performance and retention in undergraduate STEM core courses and majors
Increase the number of qualified K-12 STEM teachers
Phase III – Education Improvement Plan
Three-year project that addresses the three goals
Education Improvement Plan
Three Year Plan Addressing the Following Goals
Goals 1 and 3 are being addressed by the CCSD-UGA College of Education Mentored Professional Learning program.
Goal 2 being addressed through Peer Learning Assistant (PLA) program

3. improving access to faculty.
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Improve retention by …
improving access to faculty.

4. making classroom friendlier and less intimidating.
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Improve retention by …
making classroom friendlier and less intimidating.

5. maximizing use of class time.
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Improve retention by …
maximizing use of class time.

6. improving attitude and vision of college career path.
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Improve retention by …
improving attitude and vision of college career path.

7. Improve retention by … increasing learning.
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Improve retention by …
increasing learning.

8. Proposed Peer Learning Assistants (PLAs) in Core Classes
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Proposed Peer Learning Assistants (PLAs) in Core Classes
Source: Colorado University; Learning Assistant Alliance
Reteived from:

9. Pillars of the LA Model: Practice, Pedagogy, Content
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Pillars of the LA Model: Practice, Pedagogy, Content
Source: Colorado University; Learning Assistant Alliance
Reteived from:

10. COMPUTER SCIENCE 1301 – Started Fall 2016 ENGINEERING 2120 – Fall 2016
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Peer Learning Assistants in UGA STEM Courses
BIOLOGY 1107 – Started Fall 2016
CHEMISTRY 1312H; 1412 – Ongoing
COMPUTER SCIENCE 1301 – Started Fall 2016
ENGINEERING 2120 – Fall 2016
MATH 2250 – Started Spring 2017
PHYSICS 1112; 1211 – Started Spring 2017

11. Challenge: Physical Classroom Design
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Challenge: Physical Classroom Design
Access to students, consistency of room assignment
625 classrooms at UGA

12. Challenge: Instructional Redesign: Lecture  Active Learning
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Challenge: Instructional Redesign: Lecture  Active Learning

13. “The PLAs did not know as much as the TA did.”
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Challenge: Training the Learners
“The PLAs did not know as much as the TA did.”
Students need to understand the model and the role and expectations for the PLA.

14. “How do we identify a good potential PLA? A+ Student? B- Student?”
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Challenge: Managing and Recruiting the PLAs
“How do we identify a good potential PLA?
A+ Student? B- Student?”

15. Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
“It is essential that the PLAs don't converse in an condescending manner when teaching the students.”
Challenge: Training PLAs
Week
Topic 1
Orientation to the science classroom and the LA experience 2
Preconceptions and their influence on science learners 3
Understanding cognition of science learners 4
Exploring and enhancing student motivation 5
Factors affecting classroom climate 6
Challenging classroom scenarios 7
Spring break : Mid-term course evaluation 8
How do students develop mastery 9
Promoting self-directed learning in students 10
How does feedback improve learning 11
The various skills and roles of a science teacher 12
Discussion of emerging teacher identity
Reminder: Capstone essay and presentations 13
Capstone essays due & 5 minute presentations 14
5 minute presentations (contd.) & Program evaluation
Pedagogy Course
(3000-level)
Discipline Specific
Non
Disciplinary
“It was to my understanding that they were supposed to know this material forwards and backwards.”

16. Challenge: Compensating PLAs
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Challenge: Compensating PLAs
Compensation
Model
Stipend /
Hourly
3000-level
“Practicum”
Credit

17. Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Challenge: Faculty-level participation doesn’t support sustainability (need Department, College, University support)

18. Challenge: Measure Impact on Students, PLAs, and Faculty
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Challenge: Measure Impact on Students, PLAs, and Faculty

19. Data – Benefits of Learning Assistants
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Data – Benefits of Learning Assistants
Source: Colorado University; Learning Assistant Alliance; Pollock, S. (2009). PhysRev: ST Phys Ed. Rsrch 5, , 1-8
Reteived from:

20. Data – Benefits of Learning Assistants
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Data – Benefits of Learning Assistants
Source: Colorado University; Learning Assistant Alliance
Reteived from:

21. Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Early Results at UGA
DFW%
No PLAs Fall
With PLAs
Fall 2016
BIOL1107
20.3% ± 5.4%
21.6%
Fall
With PLAs Fall 2016
CSCI 1301
23.1% ± 4%
22.2%

22. Benefits to Students, PLAs themselves, and Faculty
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Benefits to Students, PLAs themselves, and Faculty
Students in PLA-Supported Courses
Additional instructional support in their classrooms
Less-intimidating outlet to ask questions, no need to worry about asking a ‘dumb’ question
General and academic advisement from peer undergraduates

23. Benefits to Students, PLAs themselves, and Faculty
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Benefits to Students, PLAs themselves, and Faculty
Students in PLA-Supported Courses
Student responses to survey item: “I felt comfortable asking the PLAs questions.”
N = 307

24. Benefits to Students, PLAs themselves, and Faculty
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Benefits to Students, PLAs themselves, and Faculty
Students in PLA-Supported Courses
Student responses to survey item: “I felt comfortable asking the Professor questions”
N = 307

25. Benefits to Students, PLAs themselves, and Faculty
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Benefits to Students, PLAs themselves, and Faculty
Students in PLA-Supported Courses
Student responses to survey item: “PLAs helped me learn in this course”
N = 305

26. Benefits to Students, PLAs themselves, and Faculty
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Benefits to Students, PLAs themselves, and Faculty
Faculty implementing PLAs in their course(s)
Extra layer of support for instruction, additional link to students
PLAs’ perspectives can help diagnose obstacles to learning and help avoid expert blind spot

27. Faculty Learning Community
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Faculty Learning Community
Monthly meetings with participating faculty and other colleagues, approaching 30 members regularly attending
Sharing lessons learned and strategies for success
Potential to expand PLA model across the University

28. Benefits to Students, PLAs themselves, and Faculty
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Benefits to Students, PLAs themselves, and Faculty
PLAs themselves
Enhanced content knowledge
Valuable communication and interpersonal skills
Leadership experience

29. Benefits to Students, PLAs themselves, and Faculty
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Benefits to Students, PLAs themselves, and Faculty
PLAs themselves
PLA responses to survey item: “After serving as a PLA, I feel more confident in my communication skills.”
N = 30

30. Effective Approachable ENGAGED Knowledgeable Prepared
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Measuring Impact – Construction of Surveys to Gauge Perceived Value
Effective
Helpful
Approachable
ENGAGED
Knowledgeable
Prepared

31. Instructor, Bioscience Athens Technical College
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Partnership with Technical Colleges
“The performance of the UGA Peer Learning Assistants has been excellent. They have been dedicated, enthusiastic about what they are doing, and have provided tremendous service to students. I am really impressed with the commitment they have displayed. I might add that in the process of assisting students, the UGA PLAs have deepened and expanded their understanding of science; after all the best way to learn something is to teach it!”
Michael Mouat, PhD
Instructor, Bioscience
Athens Technical College

32. Learning Assistant Alliance
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Learning Assistant Alliance

33. Instructional Redesign Advertising / Recruiting Hiring / Selection
Growing Pains and Hidden Benefits: Lessons Learned During Early Scaling of a STEM Peer Learning Assistant Program
Summary
Lessons Learned:
Instructional Redesign
Advertising / Recruiting
Hiring / Selection
Management
Content, Pedagogy, Practice
Learning Communities
Data Collection – Results
Nationwide LA Alliance
Benefits:
Students have additional instructional
support and less intimidating environment
Faculty have extra classroom support and
PLA perspectives to avoid expert blind spot
PLAs reinforce their content knowledge, learn valuable communication and interpersonal skills