The Benefits of Learning Assistant Programs for Professional Skill Acquisition

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 3:45 pm - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: Roundtable Session 8: Student Learning and Development in College and Beyond

Abstract

Collegiate learning assistant (LA) programs place upper-level students into introductory courses to help their “near peers” learn course content. While there are many academic benefits associated with such programs for the students and LAs alike, there exists a shortage of literature about the benefits of LA participation, specifically in relation to professional skill building. To this end, we surveyed 123 current LAs supporting a wide range of courses and followed up with 23 interviews. The data indicate that LAs experience growth in the areas of communication, time management, teamwork, and patience. These findings can help to inform the work of scholars and practitioners looking to refine and scale up the LA model.

Authors

• Amanda N. Nix, Florida State University

• Joseph O'Shea, Florida State University

• Shouping Hu, Florida State University