PAL for first year students

How does PAL work?

In each session you will be guided through course concepts by your PAL Leader, a competent student who has previously taken the course and been trained in group facilitation techniques. Your leader will not re-lecture or give you his/her class notes and he/she will not do your homework or your thinking for you.

What your PAL Leader will do, is help you make good use of your study time. Their role is to help you think about your lectures and your course material, and then put it all together into some kind of perspective during PAL sessions so you can learn it more efficiently.

To give us feedback about the PAL scheme please fill and submit the PAL Scheme Evaluation Form.

What's in it for you?

• Helps new students adjust to higher education
• Improves ability to master course concepts by providing students with an opportunity to discuss or practice their subject in a safe place
• Helps build confidence and self esteem
• Develops enhanced study habits
• Gives discreet support to those who need help
• Leaders provide a clear view of course direction and expectations
• It's free

To benefit from PAL, it has been shown that students need to attend regularly, i.e. at least 50% of the sessions in either a continuous or discontinuous fashion (Donelan and Kay, 1998; Coe et al., 1999). Statistical research in the USA (Martin et al.,1992; Congos & Schoeps, 1993; Martin & Arendale, 1994) and in the UK suggests that students who attend PAL sessions regularly earn significantly higher mean marks than those who do not participate( Fostier et.al., 2007 ).

Disclaimer: Neither PAL staff nor PAL Leaders can take responsibility for students' marks or grades. Students' success on their course depends upon their own efforts. Additionally, it remains the responsibility of students to get the most from their PAL sessions by attending regularly, coming along to the sessions prepared with appropriate resources, and gain the potential benefits that PAL offers through active participation in, and contributions to, the small group discussions which take place during their PAL sessions.

What are PAL sessions like?

Sessions are intended to offer a safe and friendly place to help students:

• Adjust quickly to university life
• Improve their student habits
• Enhance their understanding of the subject matter of the course
• Content is based on course materials (handouts, notes, textbooks)

The PAL scheme is free and you can attend as often as you like. Keep in mind that the statistics show the more often students attend, the better their course grades.

Read what PAL students said about PAL!

Does PAL run in my module?

Check the module list to find out if PAL is running in one of your modules. If it is, but you can't find it on your timetable, contact us and we'll inform you about session dates and times.