Assignment: Peer-Assisted Learning Demo

Assigned: October 24th, 2007

Due: Assigned individual dates

What is Peer-Assisted Learning?

Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) is a scheme that fosters cross-year support between students on the same course. PAL encourages students to support each other and to learn co-operatively

20 Guidelines for Peer-Assisted Learning:

1. It is a methodology for learner support
2. It is small group learning
3. It is facilitated by other students acting as mentors
4. It is confidential
5. It is voluntary (but regular attendance is expected)
6. It is non-remedial
7. It is participative
8. It encourages collaborative learning rather than competitive learning
9. It works on both what students learn and how they learn
10. It creates a safe environment where students can ask questions and receive guidance from other students about their course and its content
11. It uses the language of the subject discipline
12. It does not create dependency
13. It involves active rather than passive learning
14. It encourages independent learning
15. It improves the student experience and aids retention
16. It gives opportunity to increase academic performance
17. It fosters cross-year support for students
18. It benefits all students regardless of current academic competency
19. It gives privacy to practice the subject, make mistakes and build up confidence
20. It enables a clear view of course expectations

Student Benefits of PAL:

• Developed their personal and professional skills such as leadership, organising, listening, interpersonal communication, facilitation and presentation skills. Leaders list the following specific skills they have developed through PAL:

• Group management
• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Problem solving
• Team working
• Self-awareness
• Assertiveness
• Self-organisation
• Planning
• Time management
• Mediation
• Negotiation

• Enabled them to gain confidence especially in public speaking, and in their own abilities;
• Provided valuable experience to enhance their CVs and discuss at job interviews;
• Enabled them to revise and practice their subject, and gain a deeper understanding of it;
• Provided an opportunity to register for accreditation of their activities through reflective portfolio.

Demo Specifications:

• Session must contain both a lecture and demo format.
• Lecture must be at least 10 minutes long, lab time is flexible and should be long enough to get the demo done.
• Demo must result in something the students can create and submit.
• Content must involve something new that has not yet been covered in class.
• Consists of 35% of your final course grade.

Demo  Schedule:

Source: http://www.peerlearning.ac.uk/index.html