2021 LA Research Symposium

October 21- 22, 2021

Virtual Symposium, attend from anywhere!

What?

The LA Alliance will host an LA Research Symposium featuring synchronous and asynchronous presentations, live Q&A and discussions, and opportunities for virtual networking! This year, we will kick off the symposium on Thursday (October 21st) with a welcome session, a plenary talk and a time to network and watch asynchronous sessions. On Friday (October 22nd), we will get together for presentations, Q&A, poster sessions and a discussant panel.

We encourage you to join the LA Research Community and there are multiple ways to participate, including:

  • present a talk or poster

  • attend without presenting

  • serve as a reviewer of abstracts (whether or not you attend/present at the symposium)

  • serve as a discussant that helps synthesize presentations in a group and leads discussion amongst the participants in a session

Symposium Overview

At the Symposium, LA researchers will share their work and ideas with a small group of research-engaged and research-interested colleagues.

The format of the Research Symposium will provide opportunities for colleagues to give and receive feedback on research projects related to the LA Model, and create and strengthen connections and collaborations within our community.

Though space at the LA Research Symposium will be limited, we expect many of those attending the LA Research Symposium to also register for and stay through the 2021 Virtual International LA Conference (October 23-25th) ideally connecting both with LA research and LA practice. Participants will have additional opportunities to present posters and continue discussions with potential collaborators during the 2021 Virtual International LA Conference. More information here.


Plenary Speaker
Dr. Bryan Dewsbury

Associate Professor of Biology, Florida International University

Bryan Dewsbury is an Associate Professor of Biology at Florida International University. He is the Principal Investigator of the Science Education And Society (SEAS) research program where as a team they blend research on the social context of teaching and learning, faculty development of inclusive practices and programming in the cultivation of equity in education. He is also a Fellow with the John N. Gardner Institute where he assists institutions of higher education cultivate best practices in inclusive education. He was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago. He immigrated in 1999 and attended Morehouse College for his Bachelors of Science in Biology after which he attended Florida International University for a Masters and PhD also in Biology. From there he transitioned to University of Rhode Island where his research focuses on inclusion and equity. Among his many publications is his 2019 piece “Deep Teaching in the STEM classroom” (CSSE) that recentralizes dialogue as the basis for good teaching. He has conducted faculty development and given plenary addresses on this topic to over 50 institutions of higher education, corporations and K12 institutions across North America.

Invited Talk

The Impact of the LA Model: A Review and Future Directions

In a 2010 article, Dr. Valerie Otero and her colleagues outlined four goals of the LA model: (1) improve the education of science and mathematics students through transformed undergraduate education, (2) recruit and prepare more future science and math teachers, (3) engage science faculty more in discipline-based educational research, and (4) transform science departmental cultures to value research-based teaching. In our presentation, we will present a scoping review of literature that aimed to assess the efficacy of the LA model in achieving these four goals. We will summarize how the LA model improves student outcomes and teacher preparation and identify a relative deficiency of literature that addresses how the LA model impacts faculty and departmental/institutional change. In addition, we will discuss future areas of research that would deepen and expand our understanding of the impact that the LA model may have on education and engage in a conversation about the directions you are taking in your research, and the directions you would like to see the LA research community take.


Dr. Kathryn Spilios

Master Lecturer, Director of Instructional Labs and Director of the LA Program at Boston University.

Dr. Anthony Barrasso

Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Bridgewater State University

When?

Thursday, October 21: 12 PM - 4 PM PDT / 1 PM - 5 PM MDT/ 2 PM - 6 PM CDT/ 3 PM - 7 PM EDT.

Friday, October 22: 9 AM - 5 PM PDT/ 10 AM - 6 PM MDT/ 11 AM - 7 PM CDT/ 12 PM - 8 PM EDT.

  • Asynchronous content viewing and virtual social gatherings will be at the end of both days.

Attend from anywhere!

Registration Information (Research Symposium only)

Registration Fee (includes both days): $80
You can let us know on the application form whether you request a reduced registration fee for the symposium.

Applications are now closed.

Registration will open for those who have been accepted in early September. You will need to use the code provided in your acceptance email.

Refund Policy: Transfers and refunds will be allowed for no extra charge by October 15 at midnight EST. October 16 - 20 there will be a $35 processing fee on all transfers and refunds. No refunds after October 20.

Presenter Information

Types of research: Oral presentations and posters from any stage of research (design, data collection, data analysis) and from a variety of research frameworks and methodologies. Have your title and abstract (400 words max.) ready to be submitted with your application [LINK].

Format of Presentations: The symposium will include 15 or 30 minute oral presentations and poster presentations. Use the review criteria to prepare your submission.

Review Process & Important Deadlines:

  • July 15th: The Research Symposium application form is available.

  • August 11th: Applications are due and review of applications begins (Space is limited for the Symposium).

  • August 13th - 23rd: Applications are reviewed by the review team.

  • September 10th: Applicants are notified of their status. Accepted participants will be provided with instructions on how to register for the Symposium.


Questions?

For more information or questions, email contact@learningassistantalliance.org

Visit https://learningassistantalliance.org/