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