Workbooks enhance learning in peer-facilitated instruction

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Abstract

Incorporating Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) into a course curriculum significantly facilitates student learning. However, financial sustainability often presents a very real barrier to PLTL longevity and success at an institution. Another difficulty is creating a well-structured and efficient week-by-week sequence for PLTL workshop content. At the University of Texas at El Paso, “PLTL Workshop Workbooks” (authored by students and giving them publication credit) overcome these problems. Tailored to compliment the General Chemistry 1 & 2 lectures, Workbooks required for workshop serve as a source of content/explanations, quizzes, practice problems, self-assessment, and in-depth explorations of chemistry. They structure lesson plans, ensuring an even pace across all peer-led workshops. Workbooks provide quality content for students to learn. A non-profit organization owns this intellectual property, publishes the workbooks, and donates all profits from sales to fund and sustain the peer leading program, ensuring that students reap the benefits that the PLTL program provides.

Authors

• Alejandra Belmont, University of Texas at El Paso

• Ashley Priego, University of Texas at El Paso

• Ashley Baker, University of Texas at El Paso

• Mark Smith, University of Texas at El Paso

• Mahesh Narayan, University of Texas at El Paso

• Geoffrey Saupe, University of Texas at El Paso

• James E. Becvar, University of Texas at El Paso