Staff Comments
'The subjects in the Science Faulty offer particular challenges for maintaining the quality of student learning. The PASS Program is an innovative way of enhancing student development. I consider that the PASS Program offers great benefit for senior level students to contribute to successful, effective learning by junior students.'
Prof. Rob Whelan
Dean, Faculty of Science, UOW.
'… I have learnt that PASS is an essential program to help students meet the challenge of university level mathematics. It provides them with an informal environment in which they feel free to ask questions, not just about the mathematics that they are being taught but why are they being taught it……… PASS also provides students with a forum to develop better study habits… I have gone from not knowing what PASS is, to considering it an integral part of the student learning experience.'
Dr. Mark Nelson
Senior Lecturer, School of Mathematics and Applied Statistic, UOW.
'The PASS program has been utilised in my large first year business statistics subject over the last few years. We adopted the program because a significant proportion of students typically struggle in this demanding quantitative subject. Both anecdotal evidence and statistical analysis have shown the dramatic improvement in student results and confidence as a result of the PASS program, especially for students who traditionally do poorly in this subject. Apart from the direct effect of improving students’ results and capabilities in my subject, other evidence suggests that students also gain the skills and confidence to pursue further quantitative subjects at a more advanced level. I have also conducted statistical analysis of the use of PASS in subjects taught by other faculties and have reached similar conclusions.'
Dr. Martin O’Brien
Lecturer, Faculty of Commerce (Finance), UOW.
'I am very grateful for the PASS program, and the work that has been done with ACCY200 (Financial Accounting IIA) students. This is a difficult subject, and one of the students’ accounting major subjects. It has had a high failure rate over a number of years, and as subject coordinator, I have tried a variety of strategies to assist students to understand the subject, master its content, learn new study skills and think about the wider issues relating to financial accounting. The PASS Leaders have worked very hard with students, helping them with study strategies, and even preparing practice examination questions for them, in order to assist them with their studies……. I have been very impressed with their dedication and hard work. I am sure that the students find it easier to relate to them than to the regular teaching team, since they’re closer in age and understand the difficulties and pressures that students are working under these days.'
Dr. Helen Irvine
Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Commerce (Accounting and Finance), UOW.
Student Comments
PASS Program in 2006
- 'Everyone is encourage to try and solve the question in a supportive and enouraging environment, whilst still having fun. Great balance of work and enjoyment!' - CSCI114 Computer Science Student.
- 'Relaxed, non-judgemental environment where I can learn, without fear of making mistakes.' - BMS112 Physiology Student.
- 'It is an easy laidback learning environment where I learnt because my peers can explain stuff so I understand' - MATH161 Engineering Student.
- 'It helps to understand as it isn't dominated. It's a forum, for the students, run by students to involve the student.' - MATH142 Engineering Student.
PASS Program in BMS112, Spring 2005
- Interacting with other students who want to learn - also learning from someone who remembers how hard it was and so knows the topic really well but also knows really good study techniques
- The group environment; freedom to ask questions (and ask them over and over again!!)
- It is an extra hour of study each week for me where I can learn more in 1 hour than in many hours of my own study
PASS Program in COMM121, Spring 2005
- I could ask stupid questions and get a thorough understanding of where I was right and wrong
PASS Program in CSCI124, Spring 2005
- Examples of lecture materials. Friendly environment. Leaders encouraged participation
- The best aspect is practical examples and exam practice
- Challenged my knowledge of the subject
- The time in the lecture is very limited and I always walk out of the lecture hall with a lot of questions. PASS helps me a lot in answering those questions, because of the small group environment, I can ask as many questions as I want and also discuss the questions with other students in the PASS.
PASS Program in PHYS143, Spring 2005
- Having 3rd year students with friendly attitudes construct a pleasant group-oriented environment helps significantly in studying, learning and discussing problems with others
- Gave me motivation to study more effectively at home
Pass Program in BMS112, Spring 2004
- PASS helps with the understanding of more difficult concepts of physiology. All of my questions were answered, no matter how trivial they may be.
- If PASS was not in place, I feel I would most likely fail the subject, but now I'm confident of at least a pass.
- I was not a borderline passing student however I feel I would not have achieved the results I did get if I did not attend PASS.
Pass Program in CSCI124, Spring 2004
- I love learning and feel more confident with C++ when I leave PASS.
- The friendly one on one approach made us become a tight-knit group. It was like we were all just mates helping each other.
Pass Program in PHYS143, Spring 2004
- What I like most about the PASS session was the smaller group interactions, covering lecture topics with regard to actual problems in a more practical sense. The leader was highly motivated and well prepared.
- If you have any questions, the group is a good source of answers. You can ask any questions you want relevant to the subject. Good atmosphere, encourages people to think and participate in discussions. You learn and understand stuff better.
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