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UOB STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS PEER ASSISTED LEARNING (PAL) @ BRADFORD Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) Ruth Lefever Interim Head of Student Experience & Success Team (and PAL Coordinator)

UOB STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS PEER ASSISTED LEARNING (PAL) @ BRADFORD Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) Ruth Lefever Interim Head of Student Experience

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UOB STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS P E E R A S S I S T E D L E A R N I N G ( P A L ) @ B R A D F O R D

Peer Assisted Learning (PAL)

Ruth Lefever

Interim Head of Student Experience & Success Team (and PAL Coordinator)

UOB STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS P E E R A S S I S T E D L E A R N I N G ( P A L ) @ B R A D F O R D

What is PAL?• Peer Assisted Learning

• Peer support scheme that involves 2nd or 3rd years volunteering to facilitate group sessions with 1st years

• Recognised as good practice in the HE sector and is a growing area of practice and of research

• Originally set up by SEST using national STEM funding

• Based and other peer support schemes nationally – PASS, PAL, peer mentoring

• Support from the university – features in strategic level plans for enhancing learning and teaching at the institution

UOB STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS P E E R A S S I S T E D L E A R N I N G ( P A L ) @ B R A D F O R D

PAL @ BradfordPAL is about students working together to enhance their programme and university experience. It has two broad central aims:

1.To support the transition of new first year students into university

2.To offer an employability opportunity for 2nd and 3rd year students

• Work with students to personalise their learning experience

• Develop a sense of community and belonging

• Collaborative – students will help shape the scheme

• Inclusive – offer to all on a programme

UOB STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS P E E R A S S I S T E D L E A R N I N G ( P A L ) @ B R A D F O R D

PAL progress• In 2012/13, piloted PAL with Computing

• In 2013/14, this expanded to three other courses: TV Production, Psychology and Pharmacy.

• For 2014/15 PAL schemes in: Computing Electrical Engineering Psychology Pharmacy Media (including TV Production) Business & Management

• Now schemes across 4 Schools – just SOHS to adopt PAL!

• Continues to strengthen – and it is hoped that PAL can be expanded even further across other programmes

UOB STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS P E E R A S S I S T E D L E A R N I N G ( P A L ) @ B R A D F O R D

Benefits to studentsFriendly and informal space to help first year students to:

• Adjust to university life and study

• Improve their understanding key course related knowledge

• Develop skills/attributes (e.g. group working, study skills, confidence)

• Understand course expectations and the bigger picture

• Learn from the experience of peers and get to know others

• Unique learning environment – student centred and led

• Academic and social support

• Safe space

UOB STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS P E E R A S S I S T E D L E A R N I N G ( P A L ) @ B R A D F O R D

Benefits for PAL Leaders• A great way to add to CVs• Experiences and concrete examples • Transferable skills and personal development (interpersonal and

communication skills, teamwork, facilitation, problem solving, leadership etc.)

• Consolidation of course knowledge by revisiting core ideas• Links to assessment • An opportunity to share experiences and self-reflect• Enjoyable and rewarding experiences – feel they make a

difference

• We have 75 Leaders this year – fully trained and supported

UOB STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS P E E R A S S I S T E D L E A R N I N G ( P A L ) @ B R A D F O R D

Benefits to the Department

• Enhanced engagement and experience

• Enhanced employability (for first years and Leaders)

• Possible impact on achievement, progression and retention

• Identified as good practice in the sector (and noted in QAA)

• Potential impact on staff time – e.g. reduction in queries

• Recruitment (possible selling point for the course)

But! Schemes are only as successful as how far staff and students engage

UOB STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS P E E R A S S I S T E D L E A R N I N G ( P A L ) @ B R A D F O R D

How does PAL work?

• Student ‘PAL Leaders’ facilitating regular small group study sessions – responsibility for planning and running these

• Sessions last for 1 hour (usually fortnightly) and are timetabled

• Student only spaces and students set the agenda

• Staff can offer ideas, activities and course related resources

• PAL Leaders will NOT be expected to teach, but to support first years search for their own solutions

• Programme teams can tailor the PAL model to best suit their needs and students

UOB STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS P E E R A S S I S T E D L E A R N I N G ( P A L ) @ B R A D F O R D

Examples of PAL sessions• Sharing early concerns and questions

• Using blackboard

• Referencing activities

• Workload and revision planning

• Practicing presentations

• Group work skills

• Module and course overviews

• Placements

• Societies and social opportunities

• Pebble pad and library help

UOB STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS P E E R A S S I S T E D L E A R N I N G ( P A L ) @ B R A D F O R D

What’s on offer?• Central coordination but partnership with the

Department/Programme (need key academic contact)

• SEST recruit Leaders, produce info for staff and first years etc.

• Full training for PAL Leaders (day & a half)

• Ongoing support provided – including sessions with Careers

• Annual evaluation – PAL Leaders, students and staff involved in shaping how the scheme develops

UOB STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS P E E R A S S I S T E D L E A R N I N G ( P A L ) @ B R A D F O R D

Interested?• Email [email protected]

• Visit http://www.bradford.ac.uk/academic-development/student-experience/peer-assisted-learning/

• Invite me to a programme team meeting or similar to discuss a scheme for 2015/16

Any questions?

Student Success Group

Student Success Group

9th October 2014

Student Experience and Success Team

Kanja Sesay

Attainment Officer

STUDENT EXPERIENCE & SUCCESSUoB

Student Success Group

What: Student Success GroupWhy: Evaluate student Attainment and develop and oversee targeted interventions Aim: To enhance the students attainmentWho: Staff across the school supported by SEST staff

STUDENT EXPERIENCE & SUCCESS

13

In this presentation…

Student Success GroupSTUDENT EXPERIENCE & SUCCESS14

What: A group that will oversee student success and address the attainment issues and identifying areas of intervention.

Why: there are disparities that may exist between groups, which could results in different student outcomes.

School of Health

Academic Year

2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11

BME 42.1 61.8 51.6 37.7 56.8

White 64.8 65.8 70.4 73.9 73.9

Attainment gap 22.7 4 18.8 36.2 17.1

Student Success GroupSTUDENT EXPERIENCE & SUCCESS15

Who: Staff members with interest on student experience, equality and diversity with support from SEST Team

Outcome: This should be bespoke to the school. The school set their own objectives.

Student Success GroupSTUDENT EXPERIENCE & SUCCESS16

Possible Questions/ Concerns:

• We are already have too much going on?

• Doesn’t the Learning and Teaching

Committee already?

• Can we actually make a difference?

Student Success GroupSTUDENT EXPERIENCE & SUCCESS17

What We Offer:

• Expertise on attainment

• Data analysis

• Co-ordinate activities e.g. Peer Assisted

Learning, Student Focus groups

• Update on Sector research

• Trans: It Summer School

Student Success Group

SOM: Objectives

STUDENT EXPERIENCE & SUCCESS18

• Understand the dynamics behind the BME performance gap

• Investigate within the sector regarding best practice solutions to the attainment gap

• Gain funding to address this important equal opportunities problem

• Develop plans and activities to proactively address the underlying causes of poor performance

Student Success GroupSTUDENT EXPERIENCE & SUCCESS19

Contact: [email protected]

Thank you