The PAL³ Project ALDinHE Symposium, Nottingham 2010 Sherry Jeary, Suzy Atfield-Cutts & Heather Mayes

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project Outline An overview of PAL PAL in Bournemouth University PAL on the Software Systems Framework The PAL³ project Classifying PAL 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 PAL in Bournemouth Peer Assisted Learning University wide Used in all schools in most frameworks in some form 2 nd year students who have been selected via interview process, are employed to run timetabled session for 1 st 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 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 More formal trial run on BSc Computing in 2001which was suspended after problems Started 3 weeks into term Did not include PAL on the timetable Sessions were arranged, advertised and promoted by PAL Leaders. Was not taken seriously by all staff

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project Teething Troubles Resolved When PAL resumed 4 PAL Leaders were trained centrally. PAL was introduced from the first week. PAL was timetabled and embedded into the course. Registers of attendance taken. Staff were encouraged to participate by providing notes, work etc to PAL Leaders for inclusion into PAL sessions.

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project PAL on Software Systems Framework Used on the BSc BIT degree in 2002 and resumed on BSc Computing in 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 1 st Year Tutors In 2009/ st Year Students and 12 PAL Leaders

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project PAL Structure in SSF

The PAL³ Project

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project Aims 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 Students’ Requirements Students’ Requirements were to include: All student access is read only. Options available to include Info page Links Document Repository Social

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project Student View

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project Student View 2

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project PAL Leaders’ Requirements PAL Leaders’ Requirements were to include: Admin Area PAL Session Links Social

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project PAL Leader View

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project PAL Leader View 2

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project PAL Contacts’ Requirements PAL Contacts full access administration externally facing repository, of PAL/Peer Mentoring/Supplemental Support info and documents etc. This will be a separate stage of development.

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project PAL Contact View

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project Implementation PAL Leaders – 1 st 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 Conclusions Initial findings, corroborated later by the Forums, indicated: A central storage point key An external system seen as an unwelcome, additional burden & a barrier to use Additional features were not used remained key tool

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project Continuing Work on PAL Contact View Audience input Go through form Which institution Do they have PAL Is that person involved in PAL Which categories apply Have “other” option for them to fill in themselves Collect Forms What problems did they have filling in the form? Ask for missing categories

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project Continuing Work on PAL Contact View What problems did they have filling in the form? Ask for missing categories

Factors & Catagories

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project Why create Factors & Categories? To make PAL programs comparable. 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 learning NB:- Measuring success is not part of our work currently.

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project Web Page of PAL Programs

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project 7 Factors for Comparison PAL Leader Status Course Scope Rewards (for PAL Leaders) Staff Involvement Session Integration Timetabling Subject

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project Factor: PAL Leader Status Natural Selection Peer Leader Elected Peer Leader Promoted Peer Leader Next Level Peer Leader Previous Level Peer Leader

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project Factor: Course Scope Often defined by the problem it is implemented to solve. In turn, often defined by the duration of topic or module as it is studied often in parallel in normal teaching sessions. Single topic Single Module Course Wide

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project Factor: Rewards (for PAL Leaders) Employment Course Credit Prestige only

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project Factor: Staff Involvement Staff Directed Sessions Staff Topic Suggestion Staff Resource Provision

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project Factor: Session Integration Highly related to scope. Taught sessions are often for short term use of PAL and the session integration factor refers to the level of integration of PAL into taught sessions. Taught Sessions Additional Sessions

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project Factor: Timetabling Highly influential factor on attendance Eg: early days at BU - including PAL on students’ timetables from the beginning of the year, improved PAL attendance dramatically. Timetabled Additional

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project Factor : Subject It may be that, for instance, PAL lends itself best to Eg: science subjects rather than arts Eg: practical subjects rather than theoretical. Currently, there is no information available Identifying the areas in which PAL operates most successfully will depend on the current and previous use and perceived success.

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project Using Factors & 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 Supporting Process Oriented Requirements Using Factors & Categories ProgrammePAL Leader Status Course Scope RewardsStaff Involvement SubjectTimetablingSession Integration Bournemouth University Software Systems Next LevelCourse Wide EmploymentResource Provision ComputingTimetabledAdditional School of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Central Lancashire (Tariq, 2005) Promoted Peer Leader Single Topic PrestigeStaff Directed BioscienceTimetabledTaught session

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project Factors & Categories Future Work E.g.: current criteria would not differentiate between two implementations with the same attribute values across the board where class sizes of 18 led by a pair of PAL Leaders jointly ( BU ) classes are split into groups of 5 students per PAL Leader (University of Central Lancashire) (Tariq,2005). We know of many examples informally which pose questions for formal study Categorising PAL programmes may create some building blocks for future work Need a means of identifying ‘successful’ PAL programs

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project Thanks Learn Higher BU

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project Questions?