Leeds University Business School
Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences
Peer Assisted Learning
Shelley Li & Helen Steer
Student Support, LUBS
Dr Samantha Pugh
Student Education Enhancement Officer,
MAPS
Today’s Session
What is PASS/PAL?
PASS/PAL Leader role
Benefits
‘Mock’ session
Feedback/Evaluation
Making it work
Reward and Recognition
New Developments
Outline
What is PASS/PAL?
Peer Assisted Study Sessions/Learning
• Pioneered in 1973 as SI (Supplemental Instruction) in the USA
• Adapted for use in the UK in the early 1990’s
• Adopted by University of Manchester in 1995; now recognised as
UK National Centre for PASS
• Higher level students helping 1st years
to learn in facilitated study groups
• Delivered via programmes ensuring
transfer of knowledge
• Leaders work in pairs to ≤15 students
• Weekly 1 hour timetabled sessions
Role of a PASS/PAL Leader
• Lead activities to help learning
• Develop understanding, not
rote learning
• Listen; be supportive
• Signpost; pass on information
and knowledge
• Share experiences
• Act as a role model
• Build confidence in mentees
• Not a tutor/lecturer!
Benefits of using PASS/PAL Schemes
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1st year students
Eases transition into University. Builds up confidence and
self-esteem. This improves their ability to master course
concepts and improve study skills;
Student mentors
Develop a range of employability skills including group
leadership and communication skills. Revisiting the course
material also consolidates their own understanding;
Academic staff
Involved in PAL/PASS (debriefs) so that they can receive
regular timely feedback on how course content is being
received by the learners and be able to respond in a
timely manner;
the School
From improved student performance and engagement
across the ability range. Breaks down barriers between
year groups to develop an effective and successful learning
community.
What PASS/PAL is NOT …
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Tutoring
Counselling
Decision-making for others
Creating a dependency relationship
In PASS/PAL, all participants are
responsible for the content with
PASS Leaders ‘facilitating’ the
process
Mock PASS/PAL session
• Imagine that you are in week 1, and this is one of
your first lectures…..
• Take notes!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq9pMabHGSA&
feature=related
 Look at your notes – can you make sense of them?
 What aspects do you need help with?
 Go to your PASS/PAL session with these notes!
Student feedback on PASS/PAL
Evaluation – Semester 1 2011/12
• PASS attendance in semester 1 = 64%
compared to 51% over semester 1 2010/11
• First year students attended on average
6.38 PASS sessions out of 10 possible
sessions
• Over 90% of students found them useful
The best aspects of the scheme were:-
• getting help with academic
work/problems;
• getting to know other students better;
• having an informal/safe environment to
ask questions.
Mentee Comments:
“Sessions should be fortnightly”
“Helpful exam revision
tips and essay planning.
Help adapting to uni life”
Mentor Feedback
• Skills developed by mentors:
 organisation
 communication
 presentation
 patience
 leadership
The experience also deepened their own
understanding of the discipline
Bigger groups would be better so that the groups can be split to work on separate topics according to the students needs
Mentor comments:
“Helping first years when
they are struggling with
areas that I can remember
finding difficult and
improves my confidence and
leadership skills”
“Have scheduled topics for
each PASS session”
“Bigger groups would be better
so that the groups can be split
to work on separate topics
according to the students
needs”
“Good fun getting to know
more people. Feeling my
confidence and leadership
ability grow”
Academic Staff Feedback:
“I certainly agree that
this is a good scheme; a
number of my students
have mentioned that they
found this to be helpful.
So thanks very much to
everyone involved!”
“the students seem better
prepared for their tutorials
than in previous years, and
don’t seem to be asking many
of the simpler questions.”
Making it work
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Ensure buy-in from staff
Timetable the sessions; make them compulsory
Thorough training of the mentors
A co-ordinator to evaluate delivery and run debriefs
Regular contact and support for mentors
Improve students’ expectations of what PASS/PAL delivers
Celebrate the success of the scheme and the mentors’
contribution…
Reward and Recognition
Awards ceremony
Additional training
Opportunity to attend conferences
Sponsorship
Goody bag
PASS Leader logbook – skills proficiency
New Developments
• PASS intern
• Use of social media www.twitter.com/PASSatLUBS
http://www.facebook.com/pages/PASSatLUBS/
• Dedicated VLE resource – debrief aid
• Exchange Triangle – Manchester/Salford
• PASS branding and fortnightly newsletter - PASSwords
• PASSport
• International Study Groups
• Sponsorship –
• PAL 2
Thank you for your time
Any questions?