PALS@PlymouthCarolyn Gentle, Ismini Vasileiou, Hywel Evans, students and

leaders from Chemistry

PALS@Plymouth Pilot 2011-12

O 4 programmes: Psychology; Chemistry; Law; Computing fast track

O 43 Leaders, 23 groups, approx 400 studentsO PALS is embedded in timetableO Co-ordinated at programme level with support from

the Learning Development TeamO Experienced students trained as leaders run groups

with 1st or 2nd years on same programme & debrief with academics.

O Reinforces learning in a friendly setting, may identify key questions & issues; opportunities to tackle ‘threshold concepts’; promotes supportive learning communities – students decide the agenda

O What are we learning from our PALS@Plymouth pilot - Is it giving leaders and students everything we hoped?

O The expectations and experiences of academic co-ordinators in Computing fast track and Chemistry

What we told PALS students

PALS will help you during your first year to:O adjust to university lifeO collaborate with other students and ask

questions you don’t want to ask your lecturersO develop shared understandings of your study

programmeO use discussion for learning, in a relaxed

atmosphereO work on development of your academic skillsO build your confidence and improve your grades

What we told PALS Leaders

O Increases your skills in leadership, listening, planning and communication

O Contributes to your employability: we know this from other schemes!

O Enhances your learning: through deepening your understanding of earlier topics

O Helps you to engage with your university environment

Is it happening?O 50% of students attended all available sessionsO 100% agreed it was relaxing, secure and enjoyableO 67% reported increased self-confidence (Computing

fast track, Dec ‘11 PALS student survey)O “PALS ...is not a tool for fixing study skills but an

integral part of developing an academic community where informal sharing of ideas and enthusiasm for the subject is a valuable part of the student experience”

O “I found the group interaction was great – lots of laughter and very positive atmosphere” (LD advisor)