Peer Assisted Learning is a scheme that is intended to foster cross-year support between students on the same course/programme.
It encourages students to support each other and learn cooperatively under the guidance of students from the year above.
As PAL Leaders, you have just survived your first year of uni and were in the same position as your PAL group this time last year!
PAL sessions are more frequent in your first semester, and less frequent in your second semester. They should be planned, structured and friendly! Remember, as a PAL leader you are not there to teach but to facilitate discussion and share experiences.
PAL is not targeted at weak or problem students, all students in your PAL group should benefit. It’s also not a means of reducing existing lecturer-student contact, but should be more than just an environment for social chatting.
Being a Peer Support Leader is a fantastic opportunity for former PAL Leaders to further develop their skills by guiding, advising and supporting current PAL Leaders in a role that is flexible around their studies. Peer Support Leaders will assist the PAL Team by observing PAL sessions and providing feedback.
This involves communicating with PAL Leaders to arrange observations, briefing them on what to expect, completing an observation and reflecting on the PAL Leaders' session/facilitation and providing feedback. You will need to be in regular contact with the Central PAL Team to pass on observation notes and update us on your observations.
