Lessons learned from a project for K-12 engaging university students as instructors

The boundaries between K-12 and higher-education institutions are blurring as high school students increasingly take active roles in local university projects, and college students reach out to engage K-12 students in their educational pursuits - from research to college and career planning. This partnership provides continuity of education, making learning the constant and time the variable. The digital learning commons is a program whose mission is to improve access to educational opportunities and learning resources for students and teachers. In its pilot year, the program employed 24 university students as instructors who would visit 17 schools throughout Washington State, and train students and teachers on the use of online tools to improve student learning. This paper provides an experience report from two perspectives - a program administrator's and a student-instructor's. We share our goals and expectations, and discuss the planning and evaluation processes, focusing on the lessons learned. Finally, we provide a glimpse into the challenges ahead.