University News

WIU Expands Peer-Based LAP Program to Boost Student Success in STEM Courses

September 26, 2024

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MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Western Illinois University continues to strengthen its reputation as a leading educational institution through innovative programs designed to enhance student success. One such initiative is the Learning Assistant Program (LA Program), introduced in 2017 as a peer-based model to enhance active and collaborative learning in the classroom. Over the years, the program has produced impressive results, including higher student grades and increased retention rates in the Engineering program and throughout many STEM programs.

The LA Program is structured to keep students engaged with conceptual learning. Undergraduate learning assistants (LAs) receive weekly training in pedagogy and group facilitation, enabling them to guide peer discussions across various courses. The program not only supports students but also encourages faculty to take a more mindful approach to the learning process with a special emphasis on active learning.

Last year, in the fall of 2023, WIU expanded the LA Program to include learning assistants in Calculus, Physics and Biology courses on the Macomb campus. The National Science Foundation (NSF) NOYCE grant has also enabled WIU to collaborate with Black Hawk College, bringing the LA Program to Mathematics and Biology courses at both the Moline and East campuses.

This fall semester, the LA Program expanded into the Department of Chemistry on the Macomb campus. General Chemistry II, taught by Brian Bellott, is the newest LA-assisted course.

"Considering our humble beginning of having four LAs in two courses during the fall of 2017, I'm thrilled that the LA program has blossomed at both WIU and BHC," WIU Mathematics Professor and LA Program Coordinator Susie Brooks said. "This fall, WIU and BHC have a total of 12 LAs serving in 11 courses across four different departments. The students in these LA-assisted courses benefit from the active learning setting and peer mentoring provided by the faculty and learning assistants. I'm proud to be a part of the LA program."

Echoing this statement, WIU Physics Professor PK Babu added, "Having two LAs serve in the classroom and outside for our University Physics I and II has helped to significantly improve the overall performance of students in these two courses. We have also observed a considerable decrease in the number of students withdrawing from these two courses after we started having the LAs."

Private support is crucial to the success of the LA Program. By underwriting the cost of the LAs' pedagogy course, donors are providing a clear path for LAs to fully engage in this experience at no cost to themselves.

Those interested in becoming a learning assistant can contact Brooks at sc-brooks@wiu.edu.

Donors wishing to support the LA Program can contact College of Arts & Sciences Director of Development Amy Crosby at al-crosby@wiu.edu.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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