I’ve been asked to include Peer Assisted Learning (previously called Supplemental Instruction or SI) with my class. What does that mean for me?
Collaboration between the PAL leader and instructor is important and allows Peer Assisted Learning to attain its highest potential effectiveness for our students. The time commitment for instructors is minimal, usually less than 30 minutes a week. Instructor responsibilities are simply to communicate with the PAL Leader, provide resources as needed and endorse. Instructors are not expected to prepare materials or attend the PAL Sessions. More information about what can be expected from an instructor in a PAL partnership is as follows:
Communication
- PAL leaders sit in on class (as their schedule allows) and are encouraged to communicate on a weekly basis with instructors. It is up to the Instructor and the PAL Leader whether these communications happen in meetings or via email – it is whatever works best for the instructor. If the instructor prefers meetings, they can be scheduled during office hours, or at a time that works for both the instructor and PAL leader. PAL leaders will keep the instructor appraised of what is happening in the sessions, inform on questions students are asking about, point out areas where the students are struggling, discuss the level of class participation, and offer advance review of session materials and study guides.
Resources
- Instructors are asked and encouraged to share resources with PAL leaders at their discretion. Examples of resources are syllabus, handouts, practice tests, course textbooks, online course materials, etc. This will allow the PAL leader to be appropriately prepared for their PAL sessions.
Promotion and Endorsement of PAL
- During the first week of classes, instructors are asked to allow the PAL leader a couple of minutes to introduce themselves to the class, explain what PAL is, and invite students to attend the PAL sessions.
- Every few weeks, instructors allow the PAL leader to make subsequent announcements, reminding students that PAL is available, the day(s) and times of sessions and letting the students know of upcoming exam reviews.
- Instructor periodically makes announcements reminding students about PAL and including the information on PAL and sessions in course announcements. The instructor should endorse PAL for all students, not just those who are struggling. This helps to eliminate the stigma that only those who are failing the course should attend. The combination of high-and low performing students in PAL sessions provides a collaborative and less threatening environment, where students learn from each other in a more intimate setting.
As you can see, the time involved and work commitment for instructors is minimal, but the results can be immense. Data shows that students at Ohio University who attend 10 or more PAL sessions a semester can get a full letter grade higher than if they don’t attend PAL. PAL provides a valuable resource for both student and instructor.