www.bournemouth.ac.uk The PAL³ Project INSPIRE, London. March 2010 Sherry Jeary, Suzy Atfield- Cutts & Heather Mayes
Dec 21, 2015
www.bournemouth.ac.uk
The PAL³ Project
INSPIRE, London. March 2010Sherry Jeary, Suzy Atfield-Cutts &
Heather Mayes
Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project
Outline
• An overview of PAL• Classifying PAL• PAL in Bournemouth University• PAL on the Software Systems
Framework• The PAL³ project • Future work
Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project
Background to PAL
• Introduced in the UK in 1990• Based on US model called Supplemental
Instruction (SI)• SI is an Exemplary Education Program in US
• Purpose in US is to target high risk, historically difficult courses
• Goals are to decrease attrition rates in target courses, to improve student grades and increase graduation rates
Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project
What is PAL?
• A scheme run by students for students• Active learning is encouraged• Participatory, collaborative group work
is facilitated by a student leader • UK National Centre of Peer Assisted
Study Sessions (PASS) at Manchester launched 2009
Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project
Classification of types PAL
• To make PAL programs comparable.• Necessary for creation of a searchable repository• Do relationships exist between implementation
factors and successful PAL programs?• Several factors are identified, each has its own set of
categories.• Using the categories in a matrix makes programs
comparable • Measuring the level of program success makes it possible
to identify the factors that make a program successful.• We hope to contribute to the improvement and quality of
retrieval
NB:- Measuring success is not part of our work currently.
Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project
The factors and categories
• PAL Leader status• Course scope• Rewards for PAL Leaders• Staff involvement• Session Integration• Timetabling• Subject
Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project
Using the Factors and Categories
• Multiple programmes within a matrix enables easy comparison
• Other criteria under consideration for inclusion as factors include •student to leader ratio•group size•whether attendance is optional•training in terms of type and
duration
Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project
Using the Factors and Categories
Programme PAL Leader Status
Course Scope
Rewards Staff Involvement
Subject Timetabling
Session Integration
Bournemouth University Software Systems
Next Level
Course Wide
Employment
Resource Provision
Computing
Timetabled
Additional
School ofBiology andBiochemistry,University ofCentralLancashire(Tariq, 2005)
Promoted Peer Leader
Single Topic
Prestige Staff Directed
Bioscience
Timetabled
Taught session
Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project
PAL in Bournemouth
• Peer Assisted Learning • University wide• Used in all schools in most frameworks in
some form
• 2nd year students who have been selected via interview process, are employed to run timetabled session for 1st year students.
Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project
PAL in Bournemouth (2)
• Requirement of employment that PAL Leaders undergo initial training•Centrally provided for PAL Leaders from
all over BU Initial and Follow-Up training• Facilitates independent/peer learning• NO TEACHING• In period 2001-2007 - 700 PAL Leaders
trained and 8000 students benefitted.
Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project
PAL on Software Systems Framework
• Used informally in 1996 on BSc Business Information Technology (BIT) degree for two years
• Used on the BSc BIT degree in 2002 and on BSc Computing in 2004.
• The courses have since evolved • Courses are now part of Software Systems
Framework with 220+ students.• Advertised to prospective students• Employer buy-in
• PAL is fully integrated into the Framework
Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project
More detail
• PAL Leaders work in pairs• Each pair assigned to 2 seminar
groups for the year• Regular meetings between PAL
Leaders and PAL Contacts• 2 PAL Contacts are course based and
are also 1st Year Tutors• In 2008/2009 200+ 1st Year Students
and 12 PAL Leaders
Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project
The PAL³ Project
• Learn higher funded• Provide useful support for PAL
Leaders• Provide a central repository to link all
3 aspects of PAL• Give PAL Leaders autonomy over
their own area
Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project
Requirements
• A repository and communication systems for 3 levels of users. • Students• PAL Leaders• PAL Contacts
• 3 areas for these distinct sets of people which can be identified as:• Signposting • Repository of knowledge • Administration
Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project
Implementation
• PAL Leaders – 1st week of Autumn Term• PAL Leaders then introduced the system to
their students• PAL Leaders then used BUPAL to plan for
sessions• Competition for facebook logo
• Poster – “Lessons Learned”
Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project
Evaluation
• Interim questionnaire for PAL Leaders• 55% response rate• Overall PAL Leaders were positive about
the project despite some teething issues
• Focus groups held at end of term with each seminar group
• Focus group with PAL Leaders
Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project
Findings
• Initial findings, corroborated later by the Forums, indicate:•A central storage point key•An external system seen as an unwelcome, additional burden & a barrier to use
•Additional features were not used•E-mail remained key tool
Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project
Further work
• Categorisation important, we are working with Centre for PASS on this and forsee this as important for the future.
• BU is creating an additional PAL view on the VLE organised in the format of the PAL³project