University News

WIU Improves Engineering Program Retention with Learning Assistant Program

July 12, 2022

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MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Western Illinois University introduced a peer-based program in 2017 designed to encourage active, collaborative learning in the classroom. Since its implementation, WIU has seen improvement in student grades and the engineering program retention rate has increased significantly. WIU is looking to expand this program so as to enhance its standing as a premier undergraduate educational institution.

In 2017, WIU introduced a peer-based program, the Learning Assistant Program (LAP), created to encourage active learning in classroom environments for students to remain engaged and focused on conceptual learning. This pilot project was started as part of WIU's involvement in the Higher Learning Commission's (HLC) Persistence and Completion Academy. WIU proposed to improve retention rates in WIU's engineering program by employing Learning Assistants (LAs) in the first year physics and math sequences.

LAs are undergraduate students who, through guidance of weekly preparation and a pedagogy course, facilitate discussion among groups of students in a variety of classroom settings.

"There is definitely something to learn from someone who has also recently learned the topic. I miss the sense of community that came with attending WIU-QC. There's something special about the atmosphere at WIU-QC and the Learning Assistant Program is no different," said Electrical Engineering graduate Jeff Latham.

The goals of the program are to create active learning opportunities in classroom environments; encourage both faculty and students to be more mindful of the learning process and help students succeed by having tutors in the classroom.

WIU Physics professors P.K. Babu and Esteban Araya implemented the LA program on the Macomb campus in 2019.

"A learning assistant helps to create a more dynamic and effective learning environment for all students during lectures," said Araya. The LA's are usually students who recently took the class and bring a fresh perspective on the challenges that students encounter in the classroom."

James Rabchuk, assistant dean of the WIU College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and physics professor said in addition to improving active learning in the classroom setting, the LAP also strives to help students grow in their conceptual understanding.

"The LAP is an important way for students, learning assistants and faculty alike to grow in conceptual understanding so that what they learn are not isolated facts but a coherent picture of how to think in the face of challenging and unfamiliar problems," said Rabchuk. "The LA program helps do this by creating bridges between students and faculty, helping faculty to know how and what students think, and helping students focus on making connections between concepts in a way that strengthens their overall learning."

For more information on WIU's Departments of Physics and Mathematics or how to become a LA, visit wiu.edu/physics and wiu.edu/mathematics.

Posted By: Lexi Dittmar (aj-dittmar@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing