Resources for Leader Training
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Jump to a Section:
- Should I apply to be a leader?
- Feedback from past leaders
- General duties of a peer leader
- Information for current and former leaders
Should I apply to be a leader?
Serving as a PLTL Workshop leader provides:
- A valuable leadership experience
- An opportunity to work closely with faculty
- Greater fluency in the subject
- The reward of helping others learn challenging material
- Course credit for completing the leader training course
- A stipend for leading a PLTL Workshop
- Eligibility for the Citation for Achievement in College Leadership
- Meaningful work experience to list on future applications
Feedback from Past Leaders
David Feil-Seifer, a former Computer Science leader says, “All of my teaching and mentoring experiences have been successful, in large part, due to the excellent PLTL Workshop program at the U of R… When I was interviewing for grad school, I was asked about the PLTL Workshop program in great detail. I feel that it played a large part in making me stand out from other candidates.”
Kristine Wadosky, a former Biology leader, says, “The UR PLTL Workshop model has played an integral role in the development of my goals.”
Seema Bhopale, a former Computer Science leader, says, “Having been a PLTL Workshop leader, I was able to teach the kids [as a TA] in a very energetic, hands-on way, and I really believe that they responded better to me as a result…I have yet to meet anyone in graduate school who has had the formal experience in teaching and presenting that I have [via the PLTL Workshop program]…The best thing about the PLTL Workshop program for me was that it showed me how to build an effective team…I have opened many doors with confidence that rose from leadership training. And when you have confidence, people notice.”
Jenie George, a former Biology leader, says, “The time spent learning in PLTL Workshop, as well as being a leader, were some of my most memorable times as a UR student.”
Christopher Hergott, a former Biology leader, says, “Helping students gain confidence and take away a conceptual understanding from my PLTL Workshops was one of the most satisfying experiences of my life.”
Comments from Simon School leaders:
“[leader training] is one of my defining experiences here at Simon.”
“[leader training] is better than any other leadership role at Simon.”
“I would rate [leader training] as one of the best experiences to have in Simon where I could interact with not only my peers but also work closely with the faculty.”
General Duties of a Peer Leader
- Enroll in the PLTL Workshop training course, CASC 352, 353, 354, or 355, and complete all assigned work for the course. Assigned work usually includes a weekly journal, several short assignments, and a research project.
- Prepare adequately for each PLTL Workshop session, and set aside time for independent review of the course material.
- Lead weekly PLTL Workshop sessions during the designated times.
- Maintain the attendance records for your PLTL Workshop group.
- Informally evaluate the progress of individual group members.
- There may be other duties that vary by department.
Information for Current or Past Leaders
Tips on how to run a PLTL Workshop:
- Advice from Former Leaders
- Tips and Techniques for Effective PLTL Workshops
- PLTL Workshop Rights and Responsibilities
Selected Readings:
- Collins, A., Brown, J.S. & Holum, A. (1991). Cognitive Apprenticeship: Making Thinking Visible. American Educator, the journal of The American Federation of Teachers.
- King, A. (1990, winter). Enhancing peer interaction and learning in the classroom through reciprocal questioning. American Educational Research Journal, 27, 664—87.
- Parker, G.M. (1990). Team Players and Teamwork: The New Competitive Business Strategy, Jossey-Bass Publications.
- Roth, V., Goldstein, E. & Marcus, G. (2001). Peer-Led Team Learning: A Handbook for Team Leaders. Upper Saddle NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
- Stone, D.N., Deci, E.L. and Ryan, R.M. (2009). Beyond Talk: Creating autonomous Motivation through Self-Determination Theory. Journal of General Management, 34, 75-91.
Did you know...
The connections that students make through PLTL Workshops often lead to lasting academic partnerships.