Evaluating Peer-Led Team Learning: A Study of Long-Term Effects on Former Workshop Peer Leaders
Abstract
Peer-led team learning (PLTL) is a program of small-group workshops, attached to a course, under the direction of trained peer leaders who have completed the course. Peer leaders ensure that team members engage with the materials and with each other, they help build commitment and confidence, and they encourage discussion. Studies of PLTL have found that grades and retention improve, and students value the workshops as important in their learning. With a ten-year history, it was possible to study the impact of PLTL on former leaders as they took subsequent steps into graduate work and careers. A survey was developed, piloted, revised, and placed online. Nearly 600 former leaders from nine institutions were contacted; 119 completed surveys were received. Respondents reported that leading the workshops reinforced the breadth and depth of their own learning, helped them develop personal qualities such as confidence and perseverance, and fostered a variety of presentation and team-related skills. The respondents offered rich insights into issues in implementing workshops. This study contributes to the literature on involvement theory in the academic development of college students.
Cited By
This article is cited by 47 publications.
- Emily L. Atieh, Darrin M. York. Give and Take: Narrowing the Gap between Theory and Practice of Peer Instructors over Time. Journal of Chemical Education 2022, 99 (10) , 3370-3385. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.2c00170
- Cesar Gonzalez, Leslie D. Knecht. Strategies Employed in Transitioning Multi-instructor, Multisection Introductory General and Organic Chemistry Courses from Face-to-Face to Online Learning. Journal of Chemical Education 2020, 97 (9) , 2871-2877. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.0c00670
- Emily L. Atieh, Darrin M. York. Through the Looking CLASS: When Peer Leader Learning Attitudes Are Not What They Seem. Journal of Chemical Education 2020, 97 (8) , 2078-2090. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.0c00129
- Joan Mutanyatta-Comar Suazette R. Mooring . Evaluation of a Peer-Led Team Learning-Flipped Classroom Reform in Large Enrollment Organic Chemistry Courses. 2019, 145-157. https://doi.org/10.1021/bk-2019-1341.ch011
- Emily F. Kerr Martin Samuels . Using Graduate and Experienced Undergraduate Students to Support Introductory Courses. 2019, 85-103. https://doi.org/10.1021/bk-2019-1341.ch007
- Kalyani Sabanayagam, Vivek. D. Dani, Matthew John, Wanda Restivo, Svetlana Mikhaylichenko, and Shadi Dalili . Developing and Implementing Lab Skills Seminars, a Student-Led Learning Approach in the Organic Chemistry Laboratory: Mentoring Current Students While Benefiting Facilitators. Journal of Chemical Education 2017, 94 (12) , 1881-1888. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.7b00073
- Fehmi Damkaci, Timothy F. Braun, and Kristin Gublo . Peer Mentor Program for the General Chemistry Laboratory Designed To Improve Undergraduate STEM Retention. Journal of Chemical Education 2017, 94 (12) , 1873-1880. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.7b00340
- Pratibha Varma-Nelson . Empowering Effect of Leadership Roles in Undergraduate Education. 2017, 155-161. https://doi.org/10.1021/bk-2017-1256.ch014
- Jenay Robert, Scott E. Lewis, Razanne Oueini, and Andrea Mapugay . Coordinated Implementation and Evaluation of Flipped Classes and Peer-Led Team Learning in General Chemistry. Journal of Chemical Education 2016, 93 (12) , 1993-1998. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.6b00395
- Sarah Beth Wilson and Pratibha Varma-Nelson . Small Groups, Significant Impact: A Review of Peer-Led Team Learning Research with Implications for STEM Education Researchers and Faculty. Journal of Chemical Education 2016, 93 (10) , 1686-1702. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.5b00862
- Larry Kolopajlo . What You Need To Start an Academic Career as a Chemical Educator. 2014, 127-163. https://doi.org/10.1021/bk-2014-1165.ch012
- Scott E. Lewis . Starting and Sustaining a Peer-Led Team Learning Program. 2014, 47-57. https://doi.org/10.1021/bk-2014-1180.ch004
- Krista K. Young and Vicente Talanquer . Effect of Different Types of Small-Group Activities on Students’ Conversations. Journal of Chemical Education 2013, 90 (9) , 1123-1129. https://doi.org/10.1021/ed400049a
- Scott E. Lewis . Retention and Reform: An Evaluation of Peer-Led Team Learning. Journal of Chemical Education 2011, 88 (6) , 703-707. https://doi.org/10.1021/ed100689m
- David K. Gosser, Jr, Jack A. Kampmeier, Pratibha Varma-Nelson. Peer-Led Team Learning: 2008 James Flack Norris Award Address. Journal of Chemical Education 2010, 87 (4) , 374-380. https://doi.org/10.1021/ed800132w
- Leonard Taylor, Margaret Mastrogiovanni, Joni M. Lakin, Virginia Davis. Give and gain: Black engineering students as near‐peer mentors. Journal of Engineering Education 2023, 112 (2) , 365-381. https://doi.org/10.1002/jee.20520
- Rona M. Robinson-Hill. The journey of a science teacher: preparing female students in the training future scientists after-school program. Cultural Studies of Science Education 2022, 17 (1) , 99-132. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11422-022-10112-9
- Susan D. Hester, Katelyn M. Southard, Young Ae Kim, Jonathan Cox, Lisa K. Elfring, Paul Blowers, Vicente Talanquer. Benefits and Challenges in the Implementation of an Instructional-Teams Model for Supporting Evidence-Based Instructional Practices in Large-Enrollment STEM Courses. College Teaching 2021, 94 , 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/87567555.2021.1996323
- Vijay S. Vyas, Benedict Kemp, Scott A. Reid. Zeroing in on the best early-course metrics to identify at-risk students in general chemistry: an adaptive learning pre-assessment vs. traditional diagnostic exam. International Journal of Science Education 2021, 43 (4) , 552-569. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2021.1874071
- Manyu Li, Yu Wang, Heather N. Stone, Nadia Turki. Teaching Introductory Chemistry Online: The Application of Socio-Cognitive Theories to Improve Students’ Learning Outcomes. Education Sciences 2021, 11 (3) , 95. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci11030095
- Anthony Chase, Anusha S. Rao, Prathima Lakmala, Pratibha Varma-Nelson. Beyond content knowledge: transferable skills connected to experience as a peer-leader in a PLTL program and long-term impacts. International Journal of STEM Education 2020, 7 (1) https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-020-00228-1
- Jester Mark Guden, Joy A Bellen. A scoping review of the peer-led team learning to learner-participants and peer leaders in STEM courses. International Journal of Research Studies in Education 2020, 9 (5) https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2020.5008
- Douglas B. Luckie, Benjamin W. Mancini, Noor Abdallah, Ali K. Kadouh, Alisha C. P. Ungkuldee, Ashley A. Hare. Undergraduate teaching assistants can provide support for reformed practices to raise student learning. Advances in Physiology Education 2020, 44 (1) , 32-38. https://doi.org/10.1152/advan.00090.2019
- Horacio Vasquez, Arturo A. Fuentes, Jaafar Mouhamad. Mentoring in Lower-Level Engineering Courses. 2019, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1109/FIE43999.2019.9028443
- Ece N. EREN-ŞİŞMAN, Ceyhan CİĞDEMOĞLU, Ömer GEBAN. Investigation of the Effect of Peer-Led Team Learning Model on University Students’ Exam Achievement in General Chemistry. Bartın Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi 2018, 7 (2) , 636-664. https://doi.org/10.14686/buefad.412614
- J. R. Boothe, R. A. Barnard, L. J. Peterson, B. P. Coppola. The relationship between subject matter knowledge and teaching effectiveness of undergraduate chemistry peer facilitators. Chemistry Education Research and Practice 2018, 19 (1) , 276-304. https://doi.org/10.1039/C7RP00171A
- E. N. Eren-Sisman, C. Cigdemoglu, O. Geban. The effect of peer-led team learning on undergraduate engineering students’ conceptual understanding, state anxiety, and social anxiety. Chemistry Education Research and Practice 2018, 19 (3) , 694-710. https://doi.org/10.1039/C7RP00201G
- Jae Hoon Lim, Bailey P. MacLeod, Peter T. Tkacik, Sandra L. Dika. Peer mentoring in engineering: (un)shared experience of undergraduate peer mentors and mentees. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning 2017, 25 (4) , 395-416. https://doi.org/10.1080/13611267.2017.1403628
- Sarah M. Bonner, Jennifer A. Somers, Gwendelyn J. Rivera, Leslie S. Keiler. Effects of student-facilitated learning on instructional facilitators. Instructional Science 2017, 45 (4) , 417-438. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11251-017-9410-8
- Orna Muller, Miri Shacham, Orit Herscovitz. Peer-led team learning in a college of engineering: First-year students’ achievements and peer leaders’ gains. Innovations in Education and Teaching International 2017, 56 , 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/14703297.2017.1285714
- Apsara Abeysiriwardhane, Margareta Lützhöft, Erik Styhr Petersen, Hossein Enshaei. Human-centred design knowledge into maritime engineering education; theoretical framework. Australasian Journal of Engineering Education 2016, 21 (2) , 49-60. https://doi.org/10.1080/22054952.2017.1287038
- John Conrad Merkel, Abdelkrim Brania. Assessment of Peer-Led Team Learning in Calculus I: A Five-year Study. Innovative Higher Education 2015, 40 (5) , 415-428. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-015-9322-y
- Julia J. Snyder, Jason R. Wiles, . Peer Led Team Learning in Introductory Biology: Effects on Peer Leader Critical Thinking Skills. PLOS ONE 2015, 10 (1) , e0115084. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0115084
- Brian P. Coppola. Do Real Work, Not Homework. 2015, 203-258. https://doi.org/10.1002/9783527679300.ch9
- Jonathan B. Velasco, Marilyne Stains. Exploring the relationships between perceptions of tutoring and tutoring behaviours: a focus on graduate students serving as peer tutors to college-level chemistry students. Chemistry Education Research and Practice 2015, 16 (4) , 856-868. https://doi.org/10.1039/C5RP00103J
- H. E. Chrispeels, M. L. Klosterman, J. B. Martin, S. R. Lundy, J. M. Watkins, C. L. Gibson, G. K. Muday, . Undergraduates Achieve Learning Gains in Plant Genetics through Peer Teaching of Secondary Students. CBE—Life Sciences Education 2014, 13 (4) , 641-652. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.14-01-0007
- Joshua Smith, Sarah Beth Wilson, Julianna Banks, Lin Zhu, Pratibha Varma-Nelson. Replicating Peer-Led Team Learning in cyberspace: Research, opportunities, and challenges. Journal of Research in Science Teaching 2014, 51 (6) , 714-740. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.21163
- Melissa J. Clapp, Stacey R. Ewing. Using Students to Make Instructional Videos: Report of an Initial Experiment. The Reference Librarian 2013, 54 (4) , 332-340. https://doi.org/10.1080/02763877.2013.806192
- Gabriela A. Szteinberg, Gabriela C. Weaver. Participants' reflections two and three years after an introductory chemistry course-embedded research experience. Chem. Educ. Res. Pract. 2013, 14 (1) , 23-35. https://doi.org/10.1039/C2RP20115A
- Tracy X.P. Zou, Edmond I. Ko, Neil Mickleborough. Promoting Multi-Layered Peer Learning in a Course on Engineering Grand Challenges. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 2012, 56 , 74-87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.09.634
- Norbert J. Pienta. General Chemistry Student Surveys: Longitudinal Data about Which Factors Helped Students Learn. 2011, 121-135. https://doi.org/10.1021/bk-2011-1074.ch009
- Yma Pinto. Measuring the impact of a learner centric pedagogical technique for a core competency of a course in Data Base Management Systems. 2010, 36-43. https://doi.org/10.1109/T4E.2010.5550115
- Erik C. Johnson, Michael C. Loui. Work in progress - how do students benefit as peer leaders of learning teams?. 2009, 1-2. https://doi.org/10.1109/FIE.2009.5350637
- Maureen Biggers, Tuba Yilmaz, Monica Sweat. Using collaborative, modified peer led team learning to improve student success and retention in intro cs. ACM SIGCSE Bulletin 2009, 41 (1) , 9-13. https://doi.org/10.1145/1539024.1508872
- Thomas Eberlein, Jack Kampmeier, Vicky Minderhout, Richard S. Moog, Terry Platt, Pratibha Varma-Nelson, Harold B. White. Pedagogies of engagement in science. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education 2008, 36 (4) , 262-273. https://doi.org/10.1002/bmb.20204
- Paul Chin. Peer Assessment. New Directions 2007, 16 (3) , 13-18. https://doi.org/10.11120/ndir.2007.00030013
- Nayda Santiago, Manuel Jimenez, Luisa Guillemard. Combining Strategies for Leadership Development of Engineering Students. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--34303