The Peer Led Team Learning Model utilizes peer-led group activities among students to enhance student understanding of science and engineering topics. PLTL provides an active learning environment that creates leadership roles for undergraduates and engages faculty in a creative and revolutionary new method of teaching.

In the PLTL model interested students who have done well in a class are selected as problem solving guides to groups of six to eight students. These “peer leaders” meet weekly with their peers to work on carefully structured problems. Peer leaders work for college credit or monetary compensation. They are trained to encourage and facilitate collaboration among students and thereby enable a supportive environment that helps students build upon their problem solving skills. City College of New York (CCNY) students are monetarily compensated.

You're invited to participate in the PLTL Workshop Project.

The Pathways Bioinformatics & Biomolecular Center at the City College of New York is an interdisciplinary science and engineering program that inspires and empowers undergraduates to participate in science and engineering research by providing a scholarly community that is dedicated to improving science education. Our three step process includes peer leader experience in introductory science courses, training in the interdisciplinary field of bioinformatics, and participation in bioinformatics related research.

“I am going to miss that group, but I am also very excited to get a new group and experience its new personality.”

“In order to relate and communicate as a group, I discuss the issues of chemistry in the context of my experiences, the students' experiences, as well as working on the basic conceptual ideas of what the students are learning in class. Understanding the differences in learning styles and strategies of different students greatly improves the desire to learn, and the success of the process, so I utilize many different approaches to one idea, until it is clear that all students have an understanding of the subject matter.”

“The key to the success of the PLTL program lies in the ability of the peer leader to relate to the students as a peer, a friend and helper who understands them. Communication is paramount to the learning process, but is often far removed in a typical classroom setting.”

Why is Motivation an important learning mechanism, and what variables must be considered?

by John Wilson

How can a workshop leader be a good helper to concrete as well as abstract learners?

by Ahlam Hmadouch

How does not having the answer affect the workshop environment – Perry.

by Wahid Hussaini