Course Assistants: Beginning to End
TWU Regional Supplemental
Instruction Conference
May 1, 2015
Brandi Falley. PhD
Ann Wheeler, PhD
Background
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THECB Grant to promote student success
Targets classes with traditionally high DFW rates
Supplements university Early Warning System
Places Course Assistants (CAs) in targeted classes
Offers SIT and Peer Mentoring to students in targeted
classes
• Coordinator facilitates creation of support network with
students
• Looks holistically at students
Growth
2012-2013
2013-2014
• Courses: Algebra, Statistics,
and Chemistry
• Served about 225 students per
semester
• 12 Course Assistants
• Courses: Algebra, Statistics,
Chemistry, and Microbiology
• Served about 350 students per
semester
• 19 Course Assistants
• 1-3 Lead Course Assistants
(Mentors)
• SIT in the Dorms
TWU CSSP Key Elements
• Course Assistants
▫ SIT (Supplemental instruction/tutoring) and peer
mentoring
▫ Wear many hats
• Coordinator
▫ Meets with at-risk students
▫ Trains Course Assistants, Mentors, and Faculty/staff
• Faculty
▫ Positive Promotion of SIT
• Students
▫ Success = positive perceptions
Moving from (pre-CSSP)
Variations from Traditional SI
CSSP
• 1 CA:20 Students
• Mandatory Attendance
• Increased Requirements if
Academically At-Risk
• Looked at individual
student risk-factors
• CA may provide other
support
• Numerous sessions weekly
Traditional SI
• 1 SI Leader per class
• Voluntary Attendance
• SI Leaders are responsible
for SI only
• 3-5 SI sessions
• 1 Office Hour
Course Assistants
• Assist with Data collection
• Are Model students
• May hold Individual tutoring
• Attend classes
• Monitor Grades and other risks
• Are responsible for Attendance
• Do some grading (in some classes)
• Conducting review sessions in class in some
courses
• Interact with students during class in some
courses
Selection Process
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What is the key criteria for selection?
Who makes the “best” CA?
How to reach or recruit applicants?
Who chooses the CA?
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Things to Consider:
• Grades
• Employment and other
involvement
• Experience
• Perspective
Training
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Training is formal and informal
Training is ongoing
Training is mentoring
Training comes from supervisor, professors,
CA’s, CAM’s, and students
• Regular meetings
• Responsibilities include tracking attendance
at SIT sessions and turning in all paperwork
on time each week.
Training
• Formal training at the beginning of the semester
• Bring in faculty, Student Life, and others who may
help with training
• Much of training is how to be an effective CA.
• Etiquette sheet
• Ideal SIT sessions
• Use UMKC SI training materials including Lesson
Planning
• Paperwork
• Contract
• Sample schedules
• Supply sign-out
CA’s: The Face of SIT from Start to Finish
Analysis
• Average Class GPA’s compared between Control
and Treatment classes
• Within the treatment class, success of those who
attended minimum number of SIT sessions was
compared to success of those who did not.
• Success defined as ending the course with a letter grade
of A, B, or C.
• Non-success defined as ending the course with a letter
grade of D, F, or W.
Fall 2013 Comparison of Success
Course
Class GPA
Class GPA with
W’s
Success
(Grade A, B, C)
Non-Success
(Grade D, F, W)
Algebra (T)
N=58
Algebra (C)
N=57*
Statistics (T)
N=53
Statistics (C)
N=44
Chemistry (T)
N=119**
Chemistry (C)
N=95
Microbiology (T)
N=126
Microbiology (C)
(Fall 2012)
N=106
2.45
2.33
74.14%
25.86%
2.35
2.11
61.40%
38.60%
2.22
2.06
66.04%
33.96%
1.64
1.57
52.27%
47.73%
2.50
2.35
68.07%
31.93%
2.26
2.17
64.21%
35.79%
2.19
1.93
61.11%
38.89%
1.96
1.44
42.45%
57.55%
* 1 incomplete; **2 incompletes
Model 2: Chemistry Treatment
Variable
95% CI Exp(B)
B
S.E.
Wald
df
Sig.
Lower
Upper
.089
4.865
Exp(B)
ReRaceAsian
-.418
1.021
.168
1
.682
.658
ReRaceBlack
-1.873
.670
7.805
1
.005
.154
.041
.572
ReRaceHis
-2.115
.728
8.432
1
.004
.121
.029
.503
.628
.763
.677
1
.411
1.874
.420
8.362
AgeGroupedTwenties
-1.998
.540
13.704
1
.000
.136
.047
.390
ThirtiesPlus
-1.590
.942
2.849
1
.091
.204
.032
1.292
MetSImin
1.723
.565
9.305
1
.002
5.602
1.851
16.952
Constant
1.633
.672
5.903
1
.015
5.120
ReGender
𝞆2 = 142.222, df 7, p < .001 (.000), Nagelkerke’s R2 = .418
Moving Forward
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Move from 1-20 CA to Student ratio
Shared SIT sessions for all sections of a course
Maintain the hybrid model
Maintain CA requirements
Maintain mandatory requirements
Permanent location for SI within departments or
vicinity of classes
• Managing the costs and selecting the courses