Incorporating innovative learning techniques in a free-style peer-led team learning environment

CHED 1534

Jennifer L. Johnson, jjohnson2@miners.utep.edu, Laura L. Llanes, lllanes@miners.utep.edu, Jeffrey E. Hernandez, jehernandez5@miners.utep.edu, and James E. Becvar, jbecvar@utep.edu. Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Ave, El Paso, TX 79968
Peer Led Team Learning (PLTL) lessens student anxiety during the transition from a high school environment to a challenging college future. By breaking a large auditorium class into smaller groups, students are given valuable small group and one-on-one time with a peer leader (PL). The UTEP created Plus Two PLTL Program is more ‘free style', giving peer leaders leeway to develop unique, interactive teaching strategies different from those found in lecture. For example, PLs here have created new pedagogical methods for students to learn the density formula by arranging the variables in a visually symbolic way, or to become familiar with solubility rules by singing a song set to a common tune. The free style nature of the Plus Two Program in general chemistry at UTEP has contributed to the increase in C-or-better passing rate improvement from 53% to 74% over the past eight years.
 

Introductory Chemistry - Research on Student Learning
8:30 AM-11:35 AM, Wednesday, April 9, 2008 Hilton New Orleans Riverside -- HEC B, Oral

Sci-Mix
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Sci-Mix

Division of Chemical Education

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008