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In a Learning Assistants program, students who did well in a course in the past are invited to come back to attend class and help current students learn the course material. I knew these programs could be effective from my time at Vanderbilt University. Last fall when I was at the POD Network conference, I just happened to sit at a table during a session next to Katie Johnson, associate professor of mathematics at Florida Gulf Coast University. I learned that not only did Katie lead a Learning Assistants program at her institution, but also that she was actively involved in the Learning Assistant Alliance, an international group of educators involved with LA programs.

I reached out to Katie after the conference to see if she and one of her experienced LAs would come on the podcast to talk about their experiences with their LA program, and they were happy to do so. I talked with Katie and with Katarya Johnson-Williams, a senior in software engineering with a minor in marketing at Florida Gulf Coast University. We talked about the Learning Assistants model, the impact this kind of program can have on faculty and students, and advice for instructors who are interested in starting up an LA program in their department or on their campus.

Episode Resources

Katie Johnson’s website, https://mathdrkj.wixsite.com/home

Katarya Johnson-Williams on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/katarya-johnson-williams/

Learning Assistant Program at Florida Gulf Coast University, https://www.fgcu.edu/about/leadership/officeoftheprovost/la-program/

Learning Assistant Alliance, https://www.learningassistantalliance.org/ 

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