This document summarizes a peer-led learning course called "Students helping students: a peer-led learning model with an information literacy focus" at the University of Windsor. The course is a full credit, one semester course that focuses on mentorship, leadership, critical thinking, and information literacy. It includes assignments like a research paper and reflective journaling. Students who completed the course had higher retention and grade rates compared to other first-year students. The mentors also benefited from learning about information literacy issues and improved their own grades. The program has positively impacted students, courses, academic departments, and mentors at the university.

1. Students helping students:
a peer‐led learning model with an
information literacy focus
Tamsin Bolton
Information Literacy Coordinator/
Instructor
University of Windsor
Windsor, Ontario, Canada

2. The Background

3. The Issues

4. The Course
•One semester, full credit
course
•Curriculum has three
main units:
Mentorship &
Leadership
Critical Thinking &
Information Literacy
Planning & Feedback
•Assessment includes:
Research Paper
Critical Analysis of a
reading
Reflective practice

5. “The X‐ray ‐ an important medical tool that our
society has come to rely on. Nevertheless what
is the value of such a tool without physicians to
read and interpret the images. In the same way
computers, Google and the internet have
become a part of society’s indispensable tools
but without an educated public to use them and
analyze the results they are worthless.”
‐Student reflective journal, Winter 2010

6. The Impact
•On first‐year students
•97.8% (vs. 88.1%) returned
following semester
•84.1% (vs. 69%) after one
year.
•On first‐year courses
•Research‐based
assignments
•Improved retention/grades
•On academic departments
•Connection
•Community
•On mentors
•Exposure to IL issues
•Improved grades

7. “Students go to university to receive an education that will
prepare them for their future; yet, education in the literal
sense is dependent on other factors than instruction
alone. Mentorship and Learning has provided me with
these additional skills and strengths to make the most of
my education. It has provided me with passion, purpose,
strength, motivation and confidence. As a result, my
enthusiasm for education has been renewed, and my
grades have drastically improved. As a matter of fact, in
my last semester I attained the highest average of all my
years thus far.”
‐Giovanna Roma, 3rd Year Political Science Major

8. Questions?