Transcript Document

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
What is PAL?
• Peer Assisted Learning
• Peer support scheme that involves 2nd or 3rd years volunteering
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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
STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS
PEER ASSISTED LEARNING (PAL) @ BRADFORD
PAL @ Bradford
PAL 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
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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
STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS
PEER ASSISTED LEARNING (PAL) @ BRADFORD
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
PEER ASSISTED LEARNING (PAL) @ BRADFORD
Benefits to students
Friendly 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
PEER ASSISTED LEARNING (PAL) @ BRADFORD
Benefits for PAL Leaders
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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
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We have 75 Leaders this year – fully trained and supported
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UOB
STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS
PEER ASSISTED LEARNING (PAL) @ BRADFORD
Benefits to the Department
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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
PEER ASSISTED LEARNING (PAL) @ BRADFORD
How does PAL work?
• Student ‘PAL Leaders’ facilitating regular small group study
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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
STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS
PEER ASSISTED LEARNING (PAL) @ BRADFORD
Examples of PAL sessions
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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
STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS
PEER ASSISTED LEARNING (PAL) @ BRADFORD
What’s on offer?
• Central coordination but partnership with the
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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
STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS
PEER ASSISTED LEARNING (PAL) @ BRADFORD
Interested?
• Email [email protected]
• Visit http://www.bradford.ac.uk/academic-
development/student-experience/peer-assistedlearning/
• Invite me to a programme team meeting or similar to
discuss a scheme for 2015/16
Any questions?
UOB
STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS
PEER ASSISTED LEARNING (PAL) @ BRADFORD
Student Success Group
9th October 2014
Student Experience and Success Team
Kanja Sesay
Attainment Officer
UoB
STUDENT EXPERIENCE & SUCCESS
Student Success Group
In this presentation…
What: Student Success
Group
Why: Evaluate student
Attainment and develop
and oversee targeted
interventions
Aim: To enhance the
students attainment
Who: Staff across the
school supported by
SEST staff
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STUDENT EXPERIENCE & SUCCESS
Student Success Group
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.
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STUDENT EXPERIENCE & SUCCESS
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 Group
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.
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STUDENT EXPERIENCE & SUCCESS
Student Success Group
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?
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STUDENT EXPERIENCE & SUCCESS
Student Success Group
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
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STUDENT EXPERIENCE & SUCCESS
Student Success Group
SOM: Objectives
• 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
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STUDENT EXPERIENCE & SUCCESS
Student Success Group
Thank you
Contact: [email protected]
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STUDENT EXPERIENCE & SUCCESS
Student Success Group