Characterizing facilitation practices of learning assistants: an authoritative-to-dialogic spectrum
Abstract Background Learning assistants (LAs) increase accessibility to instructor–student interactions in large STEM lecture classes. In this research, we used the Formative Assessment Enactment Model developed for K-12 science teachers to characterize LA facilitation practices. The Formative Asses...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2023-06-01
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| Series: | International Journal of STEM Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-023-00429-4 |
| _version_ | 1797811364674142208 |
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| author | Carina M. L. Carlos Nicolette M. Maggiore Vesal Dini Ira Caspari-Gnann |
| author_facet | Carina M. L. Carlos Nicolette M. Maggiore Vesal Dini Ira Caspari-Gnann |
| author_sort | Carina M. L. Carlos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Learning assistants (LAs) increase accessibility to instructor–student interactions in large STEM lecture classes. In this research, we used the Formative Assessment Enactment Model developed for K-12 science teachers to characterize LA facilitation practices. The Formative Assessment Enactment Model describes instructor actions as eliciting or advancing student thinking, guided by their purposes and the perspective they center as well as by what they notice about and how they interpret student thinking. Thus, it describes facilitation practices in a holistic way, capturing the way purposes, perspectives, noticing, interpreting, and actions are intertwined and working together to characterize different LA actions. In terms of how perspectives influence actions, eliciting and advancing moves can be enacted either in authoritative ways, driven by one perspective that has authority, or in dialogic ways, driven by multiple perspectives. Dialogic practices are of particular interest because of their potential to empower students and center student thinking. Results Our analysis of video recordings of LA–student interactions and stimulated recall interviews with 37 introductory physical science lectures’ LAs demonstrates that instead of as a dichotomy between authoritative and dialogic, LA actions exist along a spectrum of authoritative to dialogic based on the perspectives centered. Between the very authoritative perspective that centers on canonically correct science and the very dialogic perspective that centers the perspectives of the students involved in the discussion, we find two intermediary categories. The two new categories encompass a moderately authoritative perspective focused on the LA’s perspective without the claim of being correct and a moderately dialogic perspective focused on ideas from outside the current train of thought such as from students in the class that are not part of the current discussion. Conclusions This spectrum further adds to theory around authoritative and dialogic practices as it reconsiders what perspectives can drive LA enactment of facilitation other than the perspective of canonically correct science and the perspectives of the students involved in the discussion. This emerging characterization may be used to give LAs and possibly other instructors a tool to intentionally shift between authoritative and dialogic practices. It may also be used to transition towards more student-centered practices. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:21:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ca0b4b4d349a4516af61a9ca4a0f0a2a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2196-7822 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:21:33Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of STEM Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-ca0b4b4d349a4516af61a9ca4a0f0a2a2023-06-04T11:37:41ZengSpringerOpenInternational Journal of STEM Education2196-78222023-06-0110113210.1186/s40594-023-00429-4Characterizing facilitation practices of learning assistants: an authoritative-to-dialogic spectrumCarina M. L. Carlos0Nicolette M. Maggiore1Vesal Dini2Ira Caspari-Gnann3Tufts UniversityTufts UniversityTufts UniversityTufts UniversityAbstract Background Learning assistants (LAs) increase accessibility to instructor–student interactions in large STEM lecture classes. In this research, we used the Formative Assessment Enactment Model developed for K-12 science teachers to characterize LA facilitation practices. The Formative Assessment Enactment Model describes instructor actions as eliciting or advancing student thinking, guided by their purposes and the perspective they center as well as by what they notice about and how they interpret student thinking. Thus, it describes facilitation practices in a holistic way, capturing the way purposes, perspectives, noticing, interpreting, and actions are intertwined and working together to characterize different LA actions. In terms of how perspectives influence actions, eliciting and advancing moves can be enacted either in authoritative ways, driven by one perspective that has authority, or in dialogic ways, driven by multiple perspectives. Dialogic practices are of particular interest because of their potential to empower students and center student thinking. Results Our analysis of video recordings of LA–student interactions and stimulated recall interviews with 37 introductory physical science lectures’ LAs demonstrates that instead of as a dichotomy between authoritative and dialogic, LA actions exist along a spectrum of authoritative to dialogic based on the perspectives centered. Between the very authoritative perspective that centers on canonically correct science and the very dialogic perspective that centers the perspectives of the students involved in the discussion, we find two intermediary categories. The two new categories encompass a moderately authoritative perspective focused on the LA’s perspective without the claim of being correct and a moderately dialogic perspective focused on ideas from outside the current train of thought such as from students in the class that are not part of the current discussion. Conclusions This spectrum further adds to theory around authoritative and dialogic practices as it reconsiders what perspectives can drive LA enactment of facilitation other than the perspective of canonically correct science and the perspectives of the students involved in the discussion. This emerging characterization may be used to give LAs and possibly other instructors a tool to intentionally shift between authoritative and dialogic practices. It may also be used to transition towards more student-centered practices.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-023-00429-4Learning assistantLAUndergraduate scienceSTEMChemistry educationPhysics education |
| spellingShingle | Carina M. L. Carlos Nicolette M. Maggiore Vesal Dini Ira Caspari-Gnann Characterizing facilitation practices of learning assistants: an authoritative-to-dialogic spectrum International Journal of STEM Education Learning assistant LA Undergraduate science STEM Chemistry education Physics education |
| title | Characterizing facilitation practices of learning assistants: an authoritative-to-dialogic spectrum |
| title_full | Characterizing facilitation practices of learning assistants: an authoritative-to-dialogic spectrum |
| title_fullStr | Characterizing facilitation practices of learning assistants: an authoritative-to-dialogic spectrum |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterizing facilitation practices of learning assistants: an authoritative-to-dialogic spectrum |
| title_short | Characterizing facilitation practices of learning assistants: an authoritative-to-dialogic spectrum |
| title_sort | characterizing facilitation practices of learning assistants an authoritative to dialogic spectrum |
| topic | Learning assistant LA Undergraduate science STEM Chemistry education Physics education |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-023-00429-4 |
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