Peer Assisted Learning

Programme Workshop

PAL @ GMIT

Peer Assisted Learning

STUDENT LED STUDY SESSIONS

Dr. Carina Ginty

carina.ginty@gmit.ie

PASS @ AIT

Peer Assisted Student Support

STUDENT LED STUDY SESSIONS

Nuala Harding

nharding@ait.ie

Part 1: About Peer Assisted Learning &

Project Background

Part 2: PAL Session Simulation

Part 3: PAL/PASS Sample Research Findings

Part 4: PAL Leadership Module & Benefits

Information Session Format

About Peer Assisted Learning & Project Background

• Strategic Innovation Fund (SIFII), HEA

• GMIT Led Project

- Student Led Learning (AIT Partner)

- Curriculum Reform (NUIG Partner)

• First Year Experience (FYE) Plans

• PAL Model adopted informed by Bournemouth University and University of Manchester and University of Missouri-Kansas - International Supplemental Instruction Centre.

• PAL @ GMIT

• PASS @ AIT

Programme Development Background

• PAL/PASS at GMIT & AIT is a study

session scheme that offers cross-year

support between students on the same

programme. It encourages first year

students to support each other and learn

co-operatively under the guidance of a

trained student (a Leader) from the 2nd, 3rd

or 4th years of the programme

About PAL/PASS

Overall Programme Involvement

Phase One

January 2009

6 Programmes

(3 GMIT

& 3 AIT)

1431st Year Students

15 PAL Leaders

Phase Two

September 2009

18Programmes

(12 GMIT

& 6 AIT)

7001st Year Students

45PAL Leaders

7Disciplines

Phase Three

September 2010

31 Programmes

(18 GMIT

+ 1 NUIG & 12 AIT)

1800+1st Year Students

126 PAL Leaders

(56 GMIT + 36 NUIG

and 34 AIT)

7 Schools/ Disciplines

PAL/PASS

1st year, Leaders, Academic

school team, Presidents,

Registrars Experiences

DVD Clips

More Video Clips www.gmit.ie/pal

Lecturing Staff Benefits

◆ A reduction in the number of minor requests and

queries from first year students, as PAL Leaders can act

as a first point of contact for „specific

information/queries‟ on settling into college life.

◆ Helps students to become better prepared for their

lectures or/and tutorials.

◆ Helps students to better manage their workload and

keep up with course work and assignments distributed

by the lecturer during the term.

◆ Helps students learn more effectively in a peer based

group.

◆ Leaders can give regular feedback to their school

management and lecturers at Programme Board

Meetings or Debriefs with PAL Course School Contact.

Group Task:

20 Principles of PAL/PASS

(Worksheet)

Simulated PAL Session

Short Lecture

You are 1st years please take notes!

http://www.ted.com/talks/johanna_blakle

y_social_media_and_the_end_of_gend

er.html

PAL Leader Techniques in

Action

Research Findings 2010-2011• 450+ 1st year Response Rate (34%)

• Leader Focus Groups

• Staff Feedback

• 25 + staff PAL supervisor trained with

International Centre of Excellence - University of Manchester

Q: How has PAL helped you?

• “It helped me get a better idea of what kind of standard was expected of me.”

• “It has helped me to adjust into college life better and given me more

confidence in interacting with my peers.”

• “PAL was a great experience I only wish more people had attended. PAL

helped me to understand what was to come on the course in following years

and I now feel more prepared for the next stages on the course.”

• “It has helped me integrate with my class mates more in a very friendly

environment.”

• “Through pal, I was introduced to something that I might had only see them by

next year, such as „Google Sketchup‟ .”

Phase 1:1st Year Experience Findings GMIT

Q: How has PASS helped you?

• “The Pass class helps me to improve my English. Helping us

to finish the assignment."

• “Share the information, classmates know more about each

other, have an effect on team work.”

• “Get information on my class project. Help get idea out of my

head. Make the class work as a team.”

• “Get to know the class better and helped with projects.”

• “It has helped me to get a better understanding of the course.”

• “Helped me make friends in the class.”

• “It has helped get a better understanding of college life from

people who have been here longer.”

Phase 1:1st Year Experience Findings AIT

Phase 3

GMIT

“Do you think

attending PAL

Sessions has

helped you to…”

Phase 3

AIT

“Do you think

attending PASS

Sessions has

helped you to…”

Introduced

in NUIG

2010

“Do you think

attending PAL

Sessions has

helped you…”

‘helped interact with all students in the class’

‘working out problems’,

‘helped in preparing for placement’

‘chemistry and solving problems’.

‘great forum for discussing issues’

‘chilling out and chatting about college and our subjects’

For a larger class group one respondent indicated:

‘it helped our class get to know one another better as it was a different classroom environment’

‘it was the first time the whole class got split off into groups and it

made you work with people you would not have before’. ‘I really think it helps to be involved with people who have gone before

you and it gave us a great insight into what to expect from college life’.

First Year Student Views from GMIT

& AIT

PAL Leadership Module

Benefits to Students & Staff

• Action Research Project Findings led to the

development of the Module

• Students completed the PAL Leadership

Module to date (2010-2011):

– 55 GMIT Students

– 13 AIT Studnents

– Over 100 NUIG students completed a ‘Skills

for Worklife module which linked the PAL

experience’

PAL Module Development

New Leader Benefits

Phase 3 (Sept. 2010) introduced:

Leaders gaining 5ECTS credits

PAL Leadership Module

• PAL Leader Workshops

Participation 30%

• PAL Leader Practice 30%

• PAL Leader Evaluations:

Observation and

Reflective Journal 40%

PAL Leader Benefits

1. Complete the PAL Leadership Training

Programme and gain 5 ECTS.

2. Facilitate weekly PAL Sessions with 1st year

Students in semester 1 or year long.

3. Develop personal and professional skills

such as leadership, time management,

active listening, interpersonal

communication, facilitation, and presenting.

4. Networking opportunities with other Leaders

in GMIT, AIT and internationally.

5. Increase confidence

6. Enhance Curriculum Vitae

Employability Skills Development

Student Leaders GMIT

Employability Skills Development

Student Leaders AIT

• Confidence

• Communication Skills

• Time Management

• Speaking in front of large groups

• Team Work

• Guiding Students

• Planning

• Organising

• Creativity

• IT/Computer Skills

• Coaching skills

• Assignment work coaching outside sessions

• Supporting students

• Communication/Delegation

• Team Work

• Planning & Organising

• Speaking to Group

• Prior to this very nervous speaking

• Confidence in speaking

• Team Encouragement

• Design and deploy a research project… future will examine long term

retention, academic performance and employability of PAL Leaders.

• Faster implementation process

• Senior management buy in – both institutes

• Rollout & evaluation experiences shared

• Best practice model

• Development of a

PAL Leadership Training Programme

• Development of a

PAL Tool Kit/Manual

• Joint Public Relations

• Development of a 5 ECTS

PAL Leadership Module and Assessment Tools

Benefits through collaboration

PALPeer Assisted Learning

At Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology

Dr. Carina Ginty

carina.ginty@gmit.ie

PASSPeer Assisted Student Support

At Athlone Institute of Technology

Nuala Harding

nharding@ait.ie

Thank You