Abstract
Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) are a variation of peer education specifically
designed to enhance first year university students in courses that have an
historically high failure or withdrawal rate. Traditionally, attendance at PASS
has been voluntary and activities are generated by PASS leaders (second or third
year undergraduate students). At Flinders University, PASS has been remodelled
with the voluntary aspect removed and replaced with an attendance grade of 5%.
In addition, structure has been developed in the program by providing
educationally tested materials alleviating the need for leaders to design their own
activities. This has led to standardisation of sessions, a reduction of stress for
leaders and has ensured that activities focus on Threshold Concepts. The
introduction of PASS into a first year biology course has had dramatic effects
with respect to decreased failure and withdrawal rate (especially of male
students) and not surprisingly, attendance is very high (85%).
designed to enhance first year university students in courses that have an
historically high failure or withdrawal rate. Traditionally, attendance at PASS
has been voluntary and activities are generated by PASS leaders (second or third
year undergraduate students). At Flinders University, PASS has been remodelled
with the voluntary aspect removed and replaced with an attendance grade of 5%.
In addition, structure has been developed in the program by providing
educationally tested materials alleviating the need for leaders to design their own
activities. This has led to standardisation of sessions, a reduction of stress for
leaders and has ensured that activities focus on Threshold Concepts. The
introduction of PASS into a first year biology course has had dramatic effects
with respect to decreased failure and withdrawal rate (especially of male
students) and not surprisingly, attendance is very high (85%).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Publication status | Published - 2009 |
| Event | First Year in Higher Education Conference 2009 - Duration: 29 Jun 2009 → 1 Jul 2009 |
Conference
| Conference | First Year in Higher Education Conference 2009 |
|---|---|
| Period | 29/06/09 → 1/07/09 |