Peer Assisted Learning Reflections

Peer Assisted Learning (PAL)
According to the Peer Assisted Learning Network Ireland website (PALNET), PAL is derived from Supplementary Instruction (SI); this programme was first introduced in University of Missouri at Kansas City in 1975. Its main aim upon development was to improve retention of course material for the students. This was for courses which had difficult content and that experience higher drop-out and failure rates. It was a method of helping students in high risk courses rather than high risk students. The programme was a great success and a similar PAL programme was introduced worldwide including Ireland. There are seven named third level institutions on the PALNET website that have PAL programmes in operation, including University College, Cork. PAL is a student-to-student support scheme for academic learning. It involves more experienced students tutoring, helping and facilitating the learning of newer students to the course material. This system helps in the students’ understanding of subject matter of the course in a pleasant environment. It can also provide the newer students an opportunity to integrate themselves into the department of their course by interacting with their tutors. There are many benefits of PAL on several levels.
For the student:
  * They are guided through difficult course material by students who have already mastered these topics.
  * They gain study skill advice from their tutors to help them in their exams.
  * A greater emphasis may be placed on certain topics that are vital to the understanding of material particularly if the lecturer may not have had the resources to discuss them in detail in lectures.
For the Tutor:
  * These PAL lessons give the tutor an opportunity to revise material they have already covered and to revise it with newer students.
  * Training in skills of leadership, problem-solving and communication are gained and put into practice regularly throughout the course of these...