Developing Collaborative Relationships
LAs and faculty can develop meaningful partnerships that can lead to collaborative instruction and curriculum development efforts. Depending on the level of collaboration, through the LA model, LAs can begin to see themselves as true partners in the instructional program at the institution since their input is valued and utilized in the classroom.
The LA in this video, [from Chicago State University] described her relationship with her faculty instructor during an interview. She explained that “I would say we work together as colleagues, we share good information ideas so it's a very collaborative relationship that we have ... I like it - I feel cool …”
Another LA was able to contrast two of her experiences as an LA. One experience was characterized by more collaboration. She stated “... the relationship I would prefer is definitely the collaborative one…me and [my faculty mentor]...were always emailing back and forth." She then described how both LAs and faculty have diverse expertise and can learn from one another: She stated "…professors...know way, way more than I do - but I know way, way more than they do about the students that they have - because like I’m experiencing it right now …like I can learn a lot from you - but you can learn a lot from me…I’m going to help you out just as much as you help me out."