2023 Equity in Learning Centers Webinar: Incorporating Equitable Student-Led Study Groups into Your Learning Center

While most educators in higher education are more likely to associate me with peer-led learning programs like Supplemental Instruction-PASS, I previously managed multi-faceted learning centers at three colleges. One was a mid-sized university and my first two colleges were located at small community colleges. It is a curious journey on how I ended up at the University of Minnesota. I learned much through my role through managing national dissemination and research for Supplemental Instruction-PASS while at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. I would have been fine managing a learning center and teaching classes at Pratt Community College in Kansas. Below are resources I think you might find helpful to take a deeper dive into incorporating equitable student-led study groups into your learning center, which no doubt has many other services for students and perhaps faculty members.

Feel free to contact me via arendale@umn.edu, 612.812.0032, or via Zoom.

<Click on this link for the master set of PowerPoint slides for this webinar> This PP slide file contains additional PP slides that I did not share during the webinar.

<Click on this link for Arendale’s resource page for peer learning programs>.

<Click on this link for the handout, Using Student Learning Groups in a Learning Center>. This contains more information on the programs operating at U. of Memphis, College of Coastal Georgia, Princeton U., U. of Michigan, and U. of Minnesota.

<Click on this link for the article, Incentives and Barriers to Participation in PLTL Workshop Spaces: An Exploration of Underrepresented Students’ Experiences>. This is the research study I discussed in the webinar concerning the experience of students of color participating in a study group program. Lots of recommendations.

<Click on this link for the article, Antiracist Activities and Policies for Student-Led Study Groups>. Many of the items from this publication were part of the webinar.

<Click on this link for Colleagues of Color for Social Justice> Available through this web page is the Antiracism Glossary for Education and Life and other publications related to the intersection of learning assistance with race and social justice.

<Click on this link to the National College Learning Centers Association>. The NCLCA represents a diverse body of educators who are dedicated to promoting excellence among learning center personnel.

<Click on this link for the website, Learning Support Centers in Higher Education>. Initially created by Frank Christ, considered a pioneer of the modern learning center movement, this is a go-to resource for the LC professional. The two resources noted in the webinar are contained inside: <LC Equipment, Space, and Furnishings> and <1500+ LC Websites and Criteria for Quality LC Websites>.

<Click on this link to Dr. Vincent Tinto’s article, Essay on How to Improve Student Persistence and Competition>. He explains the significance of “belonging” to persistence to graduation in college.

<Click on this link to my Learning Assistance Center YouTube channel.> It contains my video recordings of my LAC workshops, latest research, and links to LAC videos by other schools. Included are videos for face-to-face and online tutoring.

<Click on this link to my Peer Assisted Learning YouTube channel.> The Peer Assisted Learning Podcast episodes appear here in a playlist as well as a channel. The YT channel shares some of my PAL workshops, latest research, interviews with student study group leaders, and links to PAL videos by other colleges.

<Email Listserv for Supplemental Instruction-PASS> The Supplemental Instruction-PASS (SI-PASS) training office sponsors a free email listserv for professionals implementing SI and other forms of peer learning to ask and answer questions. Even if you are not implementing SI, the conversations might still be helpful due to the topics.

<Email Listserv for LRNASST> It is a broad-based email discussion group for learning assistance professionals, including peer learning programs. More than 3,000 educators are members. Feel free to ask questions about your learning assistance center or listen to the conversations for resources that could be valuable for you.

<Email Listserv for Academicpeerlerning>. Based in the United Kingdom, the discussions include peer learning and more. They provide a global perspective on the wider field of peer learning programs.