Peer Led Team Learning (PLTL) / UTA program
- University of Pittsburgh was one of the first institutions to value the contributions that undergraduate students can make to undergraduate education.
- In 1992, Dr. Michael Golde started an undergraduate teaching assistant (UTA) program in the chemistry department which spread to physics and other departments.
- Students who perform well in a particular course (i.e., receive an A or A+) are eligible to participate the next time the course is offered as UTAs, and, are given course credit for an independent study.
- This program has shown great promise, for example, focus groups with students who participate as UTAs indicate that they feel empowered after the experience. In addition, undergraduate students who are taking the course feel more comfortable discussing their difficulties with the UTAs who are viewed as peers.
- Peer Led Team Learning in Organic Chemistry at Pitt
- In the website above, you can create an account and look through an ever-growing database of organic chemistry problems which can be used to create worksheets amenable to peer led team learning activities.
- Article co-authored by Michael Golde on using PLTL in undergraduate chemistry labs published in the Journal of Chemical Education.
- Peer Led Team Learning International Society.
- Article on the History of Peer Led Team Learning.