LEAD Program

The Learning Enhancement Across Disciplines Program provides learning forums for students who wish to improve their understanding of concepts and their mastery of skills in a wide variety of foundational courses:

      •     faculty-based Learning Centers for specific courses (in department building)

      •     drop-in peer tutoring for ~25 foundational courses (in Student Learning Center)

The LEAD program hires and trains accomplished undergraduates to assist in these venues.

Learning Centers   (in department buildings)

•     Staffed by discipline-based faculty (in lieu of office hours) and trained peer instructors

•     Cooperative/collaborative problem-based learning among students

•     Promotion of camaraderie, teamwork and leadership (including personal responsibility)

•     Direct interaction with faculty for content material and various role model attributes

•     Confidence building through actual personal proficiency in a course's material

Advantages

•     Complete implementation of Seven Principles of Good Practice

•     Lots of students can be handled

•     Students come to get HW done in social environment

•     Easy for student and faculty to disengage, therefore less threatening

•     Student complaints reduced because help readily available – whether used or not

•     Student satisfaction (and ratings) increase

•     Grade improves with LC attendance

Disadvantages or barriers

•     Can be noisy and too active for some students

•     Faculty need to employ mechanism(s) that "encourage" students keep up personally with the work to some target level of mastery (decided by faculty and/or students)

  The LEAD program can provide faculty with advice and assistance in establishing a successful Learning Center, through consultation with experienced LEAD faculty or printed practical guides. Please contact Jeffrey Winiarz, Director of LEAD (winiarzj@mst.edu).

Peer Tutoring  (at scheduled times in Student Learning Center, 204 Norwood)

•     Tutoring done by accomplished undergraduates who receive pedagogical training

•     Focuses on individual and small-group interactive assistance

•     Offered in foundational courses from chemistry to foreign languages

•     Over a 1000 hours of tutoring per semester

Advantages

•     Quiet, calm environment

•     Focused personal attention by trained accomplished undergrad peers

Disadvantages or barriers

•     No interaction with faculty

•     Low level of camaraderie, socialization

•     Only a relatively few students are helped