The Evolution of Academic Assistance
Programs
Kent Lollis
Rod Fong
Sue Lunbeck
The Early Years
Back in the early1990’sAAP were optionalWorked alone, sometimes with TA’sHarmless titlesOffice located in out of the way spaceWorked exclusively with students Performed our “magic” in secrecy
Pioneers
Pioneers
Which role did we play?
Big Brains from another world?
How did we work with them?
Pioneers
Who did we interact with?
Experts in learning theoryLearning styles
Teaching methods• Using various methods• Even in casebook classrooms
Teach by modeling teaching methods
Interactive sessions (AALS)
Creating inclusive classrooms
Innovators
1997 AALS Annual Meeting – “Inclusive Teaching Methods Across the Curriculum”
Note sent by an audience member to the AALS Deputy Director
I wanted to tell you what an excellent program was presented by the Academic Support section at the Annual Meeting. I have never seen a better-organized presentation, with the speakers engaging in a “tag-team” pattern that was a masterpiece of choreography. Furthermore, the program had goals and objectives which were shared with the audience. Most importantly, in discussing inclusive teaching methods, the presenters modeled their subject in their presentation.
In helping all of us substantive teachers to be more sensitive to the different learning styles of our audience, and by exposing us to some of those learning styles, this program served an important need.
Innovators
Experts in outcomes & assessmentEstablishing learning outcomesProviding lots of feedbackFormative assessment methodsTesting & test validity
• essays & multiple choice exams
Use of personal inventories• VARK, Myers-Briggs
Deconstructing professor’s examsDeconstructing the bar exam
Innovators
Experts with “at risk” studentsRefined the art and science of diagnosis
Teaching IRAC skills• Organization• Analytical & critical thinking
Expert reading
Study strategies & techniques
Test taking techniques
Counseling students
Innovators
Experts in “non-academic” factorsStress management
Students with disabilities• Learning Disabilities & ADHD
Test anxieties
Instilling & maintaining confidence
Stigma & backlash
Stereotype Threat & Implicit BiasStudent isolation (thanks Amy)
Innovators
Experts in related areasTechnologySupervising student teaching assistantsStudent diversityGenerational diversitySelf-regulated learningHumanizing legal education
Innovators
Innovators
So which character are we?
We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.
Albert Einstein
Innovators