1. Peer Assistive Learning
Marcia, Dorothy, & Dawn

2. Agenda Warm- up Definition: Specific Strategies:
Peer teaching
Collaborative learning
Specific Strategies:
TTYPA
Paired Partners: Think Aloud
Co-Operative Learning
PALS Program
Teaching students to be collaborate
Pros & Cons
Activity

3. What is peer assistive learning?
The BIG idea = Peers working together

4. What is peer teaching?
Students learn from students that are more experienced and knowledgeable about the subject material.
Peer teaching can be used in many ways to engage students.
Enables students with exceptionalities to take the role as tutor sometimes (with lower grades) which increases self- confidence

5. Levels of student responsibility can vary considerably, ranging from a think-pair-share situation to actually teaching another student new content. Peers may also serve as tutors, check the work of other students, or serve as a mentor to other students in the class or program.
Peer-to-peer learning is learning from each other.

6. What is collaborative learning?
Collaborative learning is where students work in small groups to discuss concepts and find solutions to problems.
Collaborative learning is learning with each other.
Defined as co-operative learning and problem solving in pairs and groups

7. Groups involve students of varying abilities and skills
The purpose of collaborative learning is the construction of shared meanings for conversations, concepts, and experiences

8. When do you plan for collaboration?
Use collaboration when you want to promote:
positive peer support
Social acceptance
Social competence
And when knowledge can be best learned through the contributions of many learners.
Figure 10.8 (Ch. 10, pg. 331): Planning decisions in designing collaborative learning

9. TTYPA Can be a whole class to small group collaboration
Making connections and prepares students up for more complex collaboration activities.

10. Paired Partners: Think Aloud
Modelled
This strategy consist of two students:
Student One = problem solver
This student thinks ‘aloud’ throughout the task
Student Two = monitor
This student monitors the “self-talk” of the solver by asking questions such as, “What is your goal?” “Does this make sense?” “Why?”
It is important to note that once discussion is complete, students switch roles.

11. Co-Operative Learning
Most often used in promoting interdependence in an inclusive classroom. MUST include:
A sense of sink or swim TOGETHER
Tasks that require EVERYONE’S efforts for groups success
Open communication, trust, leadership, decision making, and conflict resolution (SAFE PLACE)
Face-to-face
Reflection: feedback

12. Peer Assisted Learning Strategies
What is Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS)?
Developed by researchers at Vanderbilt University
Helps teachers accommodate diverse learners and promote their academic success
PALS is divided into 2 sections: PALS Reading and PALS Math.
PALS Reading is an instructional strategy developed to enhance students’ literacy development and beliefs about reading within a peer mediated framework
PALS Math has two basic coaching procedures: coaching and practice

13. PALS con’t What is the format for using PALS?
Through structured activities, students work in tutor-tutee pairs. The activities require frequent verbal interaction and feedback between tutors and tutees, as well as reciprocity of tutoring roles.
In what type of settings should PALS be used?
PALS may be used within the regular classroom with all students participating.

14. PALS con’t To what extent has research shown PALS to be useful?
Research has shown PALS to be an effective reading intervention program. Improvements in students’ reading fluency and comprehension have been noted for learning disabled low achieving, and average achieving students. With regards to the PALS extensions, High School PALS has shown to effectively promote literacy among seriously reading delayed adolescents. Kindergarten PALS research has shown positive improvements in phonological awareness and significant increases in the children’s reading competence overall. Research on the First Grade PALS is pending.

15. PALS con’t What materials are needed to implement PALS?
No special reading materials – library books or short stories can be used. Other materials are needed according to specific grade levels.
What is the cost of PALS materials?
Materials vary in price from $15 to $44. Large print lessons are recommended for using PALS in reading instruction for Kindergarten. Materials for 1st Grade consist of scripted lessons to teach students the PALS procedures, teacher-directed decodable worksheets, and decoding lesson worksheets that student pairs use during tutoring. Materials for 2nd Grade and above consist of a teacher’s manual with scripted lessons to instruct students in the PALS program. Students can use classroom reading materials to implement the program.
How can you get the materials?
Materials can be ordered from the following website:

16. PALS con’t What is the time commitment for PALS?
The time commitment to implement PALS differs slightly depending on the grade level and flexibility in scheduling.
Kindergarten: 3-4 times/week 30 minutes/session
1st Grade: 3-4 times/week 35 minutes/session
2nd-6th Grade: 3 times/week 35 minutes/session
High School: 5 times every 2 weeks 35 minutes/session

17. The collaboration process:
In order to teach students how to collaborate, teachers need to do the following:
Teach students how to work together (assume nothing)
Make sure each group member is accountable for contributing to completion and quality
Observe and mediate (but don’t control students)
Make observational notes that can be used to inform instructional decisions

18. Evaluate students’ progress and increasingly integrate co-operative learning across the curriculum
Begin with simple, short activities that provide frequent opportunities for participation
Try participation in pairs through TTYPA, think- pair-share, and think aloud pairs
By practicing with short, simple collaborative activities, teachers can learn to form groups and intervene effectively

19. Pros of peer assistive learning
Social competence,
Communication skills
Self-esteem
Higher achievement and greater productivity
Development of reading, writing skills and language development
Improvement in attendance
Opportunities for leadership and social responsibility
Safe learning environment
Students receive more time for individualized learning.
Direct interaction between students promotes active learning.
Peer teachers reinforce their own learning by instructing others.
Students feel more comfortable and open when interacting with a peer.
Peers share a similar discourse, allowing for greater understanding.
Team-building spirit
More supportive relationships
Greater psychological well-being

20. Cons of peer assistive learning
Assessment (same grade for students who did not contribute)
Dependency (gifted)
Group composition
“Cover the curriculum” (not always being able to make learning clear or explicit enough)
Low tolerance for diversity
Attendance

21. Activity: a peer teaching example
Lynn is a grade 11 student and meets regularly with Suzanne, a grade 12 peer tutor. Lynn has severe difficulty with written expression and meets with Suzanne to revise and edit her written work for English Lynn is very self-conscious about her difficulty in writing and doesn’t want her peers to know. Therefore, she and Suzanne meet in the resource room during period 3, the class that Suzanne is available.

22. The pro:
Suzanne sees growth in Lynn’s confidence in her writing skills and talks to her English teacher about pushing her to stay in the class a little more and try to revise on her own first. How should Suzanne and the teacher proceed?

23. The con:
Lynn had done well on her latest assignment in English that she worked on with Suzanne. Now, even with the smallest of assignments, Lynn wants to rush to the resource room to work with Suzanne, but she is not always available. Then Lynn shuts down and doesn’t want to do any English work at all. What does the teacher do now?

24. Resources: Hutchinson textbook
dents/index.htm
peer-learning/
the-classroom-to-benefit-students-with-learning-disabilities/
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