Peer Led Team

Learning Workshops

Why we do this….

Successes at PSU In Organic Chemistry:

Student Success – pass with C- or better

Student Persistence – succeed in all three terms in same academic year

Student College Performance – comparing GPA to course grade

Average of 5 years of data

Wamser, JChemEd 83,10, 2006, p. 1562

% successful

% persistent

Course Grade vs GPA

Non-workshop students

69 28 -0.63

Workshop Students

85 57 -0.36

Vygotsky: What is the problem?

Concept Development – The greatest difficulty of all is the application of a concept, to new concrete situations

School and Mental Development – instruction frequently precedes mental development – when things “click”

Proposes: The initial learning of one concept provides the basis for learning more complex concepts

Vygotsky’s Solutions

Humans are great imitators Humans are social creatures Zone of Proximal Development –

distance between the actual level and the potential level of as determined through problem solving in collaboration with more capable peers

Implications for Instruction

Use models, labs, manipulatives Context is more important than

cognitive demand Knowledge is gained through

interpersonal connections Role of language as a tool in thinking

and communicating – get to school-learned language of scientists

Scientific understanding is Constructed based on previous

experiences and knowledge Constructed in a social context through

language – sense-making Supported through cooperative learning Developed by making connections

among scientific concepts and disciplines – between science and everyday life

PLTL Workshops In peer-led team learning, we give

students a chance to consider, evaluate and challenge the alternative conceptions that develop as learning occurs.

Vygotsky: social interaction with knowledgeable

peers Language is the medium for that social

interaction.

Central to Model - YOU

Leaders make groups coherent and effective by: Clarifying purpose and goals Ensuring full participation Building commitment and self

confidence Strengthening team member’s skills

and approaches to problem solving

What does a workshop look like?

Who’s the leader? Lots of questions get asked Alternative solutions proposed Big group discussions Small group problem solving Its NOISY

Reflection SII Strength – What is one habit or practice

that you already have that contributes to your success in science classes?

Improvement - What is one habit or practice that you would like to cultivate?

Insight – What habit or practice do you think you might share with workshop students?

Your Role Prepare solutions to workshop – reflect on

your assumptions and understanding Discuss solutions in weekly meeting –

question

Plan group structure – problem approach Decode terminology? Clues or leading questions? Traps leading astray? Confirm your understanding? How to create a comfortable environment?