(PDF) Annotated Bibliography of Postsecondary Peer Cooperative Learning Programs
For many years I have maintained an annotated bibliography of publications about peer learning programs at the postsecondary level. This annotated bibliography does not attempt to be inclusive of this broad field of literature concerning peer collaborative learning. Instead, it is focused intentionally on a subset of the educational practice that shares a common focus with increasing student persistence towards graduation. At the end of this overview, several suggestions are made for differentiating the models from each other and the level of institutional resources and resolve with implementing them.
The seven student peer learning programs included in this bibliography meet the following characteristics: (a) the program must have been implemented at the postsecondary or tertiary level; (b) the program has a clear set of systematic procedures for its implementation that could be replicated by another institution; (c) program evaluation studies have been conducted and are available for review; (d) the program intentionally embeds learning strategy practice along with review of the academic content material; (e) the program outcomes include increased content knowledge, higher final course grades, higher pass rates, and higher college persistence rates; and (f) the program has been replicated at another institution with similar positive student outcomes. From a review of the professional literature, six programs emerged: (a) Accelerated Learning Groups (ALGs), (b) Emerging Scholars Program (ESP), (c) Peer Assisted Learning (PAL), (d) Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL), (e) Structured Learning Assistance (SLA), (f) Supplemental Instruction (SI), and (g) Video-based Supplemental Instruction (VSI).
(S02-E01) Season Two Overview Spring 2017
In this podcast episode we begin our second season of the PAL Podcast. We are focused on postsecondaru peer cooperative learning programs. Our podcast will include not only interviews with studnnt leaders of these college study group sessions, but also interviews with supervisors of PAL programs around the world. I will also include episodes that share emerging research on peer learning. Also, look for PDF documents that come along with the audio podcast episodes. These will be training materials and draft versions of future articles. Send me email at arendale@umn.edu Check out my webpage where I provide more information on this topic. My website is located at http://arendae.org To directly reach those materials on the website click on this link, /peer-learnng-resources/
(S01-E06) College Algebra with Rhonda
Rhonda is a student at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities that shares some strategies that are successful in college algebra math through her experience as a PAL facilitator. Among her comments concerning competitive learning games in PAL sessions. She carefully uses it in class to energize students before major exams where shes uses a version of Jeoprady with them. Most of the semester she has them work in small groups on work sheets which require teamwork to complete.
(S01-E05) College Precalculus Math with Jered
Jered is a student at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities that shares some strategies that are successful in college Calculus I math through his experience as a PAL facilitator. Among his comments he shares strategies to engage the students through intentional peer cooperative learning activities.
(S01-E04) College Algebra PAL with Ahn
Ahn is a student at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities that shares some strategies that are successful in college algebra through her experience as a PAL facilitator. Among her comments she shares strategies to engage the students through intentional peer cooperative learning activities such as jigsaw and the need to have students move around the room to different math work stations to energize them, especially with PAL sessions early in the morning.
S01-E03) College Algebra with Nikela
Nikela is a student at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities that shares some strategies that are successful in college algebra through her experience as a PAL facilitator. Among her comments, she shares on her caution with using gaming activities in her math sessions; activities that involve students with math board work and leading a discussion with the class; reasons for selecting small groups of three students; and reasons for asking students to provide alternative solutions for solving math problems.
All Episodes (S01-E02) General Chemistry PAL with Melissa (S01-E02) General Chemistry PAL with Melissa
Melissa is a student at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities that shares how she serves as a PAL facilitator in an introductory general chemistry course. She shares several strategies for the sessions including exam bingo and involving students with creating the problem worksheets and helping others students to solve them.
(S01-E01) PAL Groups Podcast Overview
I am hosting a new audio podcast series available for free subscription through Apple's iTunes store or free downloading through this blog page. It is called the Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) Groups Podcast. It features short episodes of about 10 minutes devoted to interviews of students that facilitate and guide study review groups with other college students. This blog page is devoted to sharing new things that I am learning about peer assisted learning (PAL). This podcast is a natural extension of that information by sharing the personal stories of the people who actually provide the service, the PAL facilitators themselves. Each episode features several PAL session activities that worked well with the subject matter and the students. The interview ends with the PAL facilitator reflecting on what they are learning personally and professionally about the experience as PAL facilitator. Initially, the interviews will be with PAL facilitators at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Eventually, study group leaders at other colleges will be included. Please email me if you or your student study group leaders would like to be interviewed for the podcast, arendale@umn.edu I was on the team at the University of Minnesota that developed the PAL model to meet the needs of our students in historically-difficult first-year courses.