OPENING DOORS TO STEM TEACHING WITH A LEARNING ASSISTANT PROGRAM Program Leaders: Debra Poese, Carolyn Schick LA – “Learning Assistant” An LA is an undergraduate student who is paid to work with a faculty mentor assisIng in a STEM classroom with the goal of encouraging the LA to consider a career in STEM teaching (especially K-‐12). ¨ 
LAs develop a one-‐on-‐one relaIonship with their faculty mentor Learning Assistant Alliance hRp://www.learningassistantalliance.org/ Funding Paid PosiIons: J ¤  LA pay is $800/semester The NSF grant requires that LAs be U.S. ciIzens, permanent residents or refugee aliens. Typical LA Assignments and DuIes Typically 6 hours/week of LA duIes Assist in the lab ¨  Give in-‐class mini presentaIons ¨  Provide in-‐class guidance (ﬂipped classrooms) ¨  Lead review sessions ¨  Assist in computer/math lab ¨  Hold oﬃce hours ¨  Assist with STEM camps for K-‐12 programs ¨ 
LAs in AcIon LA program at Montgomery College ¤  30-‐35 LAs each semester ¤  All STEM departments represented: biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, math, physics (preparatory to upper level courses) ¤  LA OrientaIon and tutor training at beginning of semester ¤  Mid-‐semester LA dinner gathering ¤  LA t-‐shirts and cerIﬁcates Learning Assistant PerspecIves One thing you’ve learned so far while being an LA: I saw myself through students
when they struggle
understanding the material.
It feels so good to help them
understand the material. CollaboraIons with 4-‐year schools ¨ 
An LA at a community college transfers and becomes an LA at a 4-‐year school Acknowledgments/Project Personnel Principal Inves<gator: Debra Poese, Director, School of EducaIon; Professor, MathemaIcs Co-‐Principal Inves<gators: John Hamman, Professor/Chair, Department of MathemaIcs Barbara Hoberman, Professor, Department of Biology Eugene Li, Professor, Department of Physics/Engineering/Geosciences Darrin Campen, InstrucIonal Dean, EducaIon and Social Sciences Project Coordinator: Carolyn Schick, STEM Faculty Advisor [email protected] Thanks to all the MC faculty mentors and the LAs for making this program successful! This program is supported by a capacity building grant from the NaIonal Science FoundaIon under the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, Award No. 1239965. (2012-‐2015)