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

Student View

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project

Student View 2

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 Contact View

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

Software Systems Research Centre The PAL³ Project

Questions