PAL - Peer Assisted Learning
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Student-led support to help you adjust to University life.
PAL stands for Peer Assisted Learning. PAL provides regular weekly review session where Leaders introduce activities tailored to your study needs.
It's a safe and confidential space where you can feel comfortable to ask questions, make mistakes, and receive advice and support from students who have been in the same position.
What is PAL?
PAL stands for Peer Assisted Learning and provides regularly scheduled weekly review sessions for you to compare notes, discuss concepts and consolidate material. It's a safe space for questioning, making mistakes and building confidence. You will also develop strategies for general study habits that can help you in all your courses. The sessions are informal and are a way to make sure you have understood the material that week.
The program is accessed through face-to-face weekly sessions as timetabled. Sessions and materials are prepared and run by a student PAL Leader who previously completed the same module of study.
Who can attend a PAL session?
PAL sessions will be running for 1st year Undergraduates in the following departments in 2018/19:
Anthropology
Sociology
Psychology
Media & Communications
IMS
Visual Cultures
Foundation / year 0 Computing students will have PAL sessions
Check your timetable. Your PAL session will be scheduled with your classes. Your Department and PAL leaders will also send you an email when your studies begin with information on the sessions.
Why attend a PAL session?
PAL is based on an internationally recognised programme.
Research into PAL has demonstrated that the programme significantly improves the university grades of students who attend regularly. It has also been shown that one hour of face-to-face PAL is equivalent of up to three hours of solo study – so, if you’re busy like most students, PAL helps you make the most of your study time! Plus it’s a really good way to make friends with other students on your course and a great way to find out about the expectations of Goldsmiths early in the term.
Further benefits of PAL
- It’s a safe space for questioning, making mistakes and building confidence.
- You will also develop strategies for effective study habits.
- Attending the sessions are informal is a great way of making sure you have understood the material taught that week.
Who are the PAL leaders?
PAL Leaders are continuing students who previously completed the same modules of study. They are a great resource as they've recently been at the same stage of their studies as you.
PAL Leaders have been trained to facilitate PAL sessions. Leaders encourage students to improve their understanding of course material by reviewing and discussing important concepts in a group setting. Leaders also develop sessions which model effective learning that will help you master course content on your own.
PAL leaders are not Lecturers or Tutors and do not take the place of them.