Applying to Become a PAL Leader An overview for applicants
What is PAL? • Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) 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 co-operatively under the guidance of students from the year above • As PAL Leaders we have just survived our first year and were in the same shoes as you this time last year
The 5 Main Aims of PAL: • Integrate quickly to university life and get to know other students
• Gain insight into the requirements of their programme, and their lecturers’ expectations from the perspective of a more experienced student • Improve their learning and study skills to meet the demands of their programme • Enhance their understanding of the subject matter of their course through collaborative group discussion • Prepare better for assessed work and examinations
What is a PAL session?? • After receiving training, PAL Leaders facilitate regular (weekly or fortnightly) sessions for groups of Level 4 (or Level 5) students • PAL sessions are planned, structured and friendly • The emphasis is about working together as a group and the more everyone joins in these discussions, the better the sessions work. • Content for PAL sessions is based on existing course materials - hand-outs, notes, textbooks and set reading.
Benefits for PAL Leaders • Money! It is a paid role! • A fantastic addition to your CV and plenty of transferable skills to show potential employers • £10 worth of printer credits per Leader • A free hoodie! • Develop your own confidence as well as skills in time management, preparation and leadership • The satisfaction of knowing that you are helping out your fellow students
The Application Process… • Application forms are available from Course Contacts, current PAL Leaders and PAL seminar group Facebook pages • Normally your completed application forms should be returned to your Course Contact by the date stipulated by the Course Contact (PAL Leaders should know when this will be), normally around late March/ early April • Selection of PAL Leaders normally takes place during April. Selection of is made by the course contact, if there are more applications than roles, interviews may be necessary • You should hear whether or not you have been selected by April/May • PAL Leaders are trained for their role during an intensive two-day initial training course. These are offered during in late May and June. Attendance at an initial training course is mandatory.
A quick video to show the benefits of PAL…..
What is realistically involved….?? Link to video: https://youtu.be/tW0rVRY-JDg
For Further Information… • Website: www.pal.bournemouth.ac.uk • Any Questions? Email: pal@bournemouth.ac.uk • Ask your Leaders questions so they can tell you as much as possible about their experiences of the role • If you’d like to apply please email your PAL course contact who is […insert course contact name here…]