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SWRM Chemical Education 329

Generating Chemistry Majors and Graduates at

UTEP using „Plus Two‟ Peer-Led Team Learning

James E. Becvar

5 November 2009

jbecvar@utep.edu

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PLTL Workshop resembles the

„One Room Schoolhouse‟

With the „More-able Peers‟

Assisting with the learning of the „Younger Ones‟

Current Total Enrollment at UTEP: about 21,000 students

Enrollment:

in Engineering: 2,300

in Science: 1,500

3,800 STEM students

or 18% of the total

About 900 students per year attempt first semester general

chemistry

PLTL is practiced at many colleges and

universities.

So how is the UTEP PLTL Program

different (unique)?

1. Integral, not supplemental

2. A little maverick: „Free Style‟

3. Includes Hands-on Explorations

for Peer Leaders to „build upon‟

1. Integral

• Require Co-Enrollment in Two-Hour Workshop.

• Each Workshop: 12 – 15 students commingled from the

lecture sections.

• Each Workshop is guided by one Peer Leader.

Monday-Wednesday Lecture

Section of 220 students

Tuesday-Thursday Lecture

Section of 200 students

LectureLecture

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

8:00 AM

NOON

6:00 PM

Workshop

2. “Free Style”

TitleSub TitleFrom www.pltl.org:

Students who have

previously done well in

the course become

guides and mentors, the

Workshop Peer Leaders.

For the peer leaders, the

experience can have a

profound effect on their

individual and

professional growth.

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Peer Leaders promote active, collaborative,

team-based learning

3. Explorations

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Rooms Used for Workshops

Wet labDry Studio

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Peer Leaders at UTEP engage students in

“Explorations”

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Explorations are short

(e.g. 30 minute), simple

hands-on activities

exposing students to

relevant chemical processes

they cause to happen with

their own hands. They are

guided inquiry. They are

contextual. They cloak

„the lion‟ of fundamental

science in the „sheep‟s

clothing‟ of fun stuff.

Essential: Training

Lots of Training

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Preview Preview

LectureLecture

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

8:00 AM

NOON

6:00 PM

An essential part of training:

the instructor meets regularly with the Peer Leaders

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Plus Two:

What’s involved?Training!

Lots and lots

of training!

Training of new PLs by:

• Experienced PLs

• Faculty involved

• Learning Specialists

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Peer Leader Training: Essential

Summer 2006 training with Math and CS Peer Leaders

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40

50

60

70

80

90

94-95 95-96 96-97 97-98 98-99 99-00 00-01 01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06

CHEM 1305 Pass Rate (A+B+C) on First Attempt

Academic Year

Perc

en

tag

e (

A+

B+

C)

56.8% 56.5%

51.4%

55.9%

43.4%

(Annual total enrollment in parentheses)

(435) 52.6%

60.7%

74.5%72.2%

84.2%

73.4%74.6%

(407)

(405)

(347)

(371)

(627)

(389)

(443)

(571)

(614)

(628) (677)

40

50

60

70

80

90

94-95 95-96 96-97 97-98 98-99 99-00 00-01 01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06

CHEM 1305 Pass Rate (A+B+C) on First Attempt

Academic Year

Perc

en

tag

e (

A+

B+

C)

56.8% 56.5%

51.4%

55.9%

43.4%

(Annual total enrollment in parentheses)

(435) 52.6%

60.7%

74.5%72.2%

84.2%

73.4%74.6%

(407)

(405)

(347)

(371)

(627)

(389)

(443)

(571)

(614)

(628) (677)

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4146

53

85

111

125 125121

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Fall 2000 Fall 2001 Fall 2002 Fall 2003 Fall 2004 Fall 2005 Fall 2006 Fall 2007

Number of Chemistry Majors at UTEP

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UTEP Chemistry BS Degrees 1988-2008

01020304050

88-8

9

90-9

1

92-9

3

94-9

5

96-9

7

98-9

9

00-0

1

2002

-03

2004

-05

2006

-07

Academic Year

Nu

mb

er

of

Stu

de

nts

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Who are the Peer Leaders?

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My Dreams:

•Use the pedagogically well-trained Peer

Leaders in local K-12 schools

•Include the El Paso Community College

in Plus Two Peer-Led Team Learning

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Acknowledgements

The Hundred + Chemistry Peer Leaders, 2000 – 2009

NSF Model Institutions of Excellence Grant HRD-9550502

NSF STEP Grant “I-STAR” (DUE 0653270)

The UTEP College of Science and Department of Chemistry

Dr. Wen-Yee Lee

Dr. Juan Noveron

Dr. Mahesh Narayan

General Chemistry Students Since 2000

Workshops at SWRM:

Today: CHDL at 4:30 Manning Room

Tomorrow: CPR at 1 p.m. UTEP

POGIL at 3 p.m. Longhorn

Dale Alexander 5:30 Kohlberg

Saturday: CHDL, POGIL, Explorations,

Chemistry CirCus, Slime, Shaving Cream Art