Peer-assisted study
What is PASS PAL?
Peer study schemes provide students with the opportunity to seek educational support from other students. It is a chance to ask questions, get feedback and learn from others who have very recently completed the same or similar courses.
Peer Assisted Study Support (PASS) and Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) are two terms for schemes that run in some Schools at the University. They are often run as weekly sessions, focusing on academic rather than pastoral matters, which the Peer Mentoring schemes cover.
PASS/PAL schemes also run at different universities across the UK and abroad. They originally grew from the Supplemental Instruction model used widely across North American education institutions. A good starting point for more information about this is from the PASS national website hosted by the University of Manchester.
Benefits of peer-assisted study
PASS/PAL benefits all three key participants: students, PASS/PAL Student Leaders and the School, including staff and academics within it.
The Scheme has been reported to improve academic performance and confidence, in that it provides a "safe space" for students to ask questions, provides invaluable transferable skills including leadership and communication, and creates a feedback loop that enables Schools to continually improve their teaching and student satisfaction. Documented evidence of these and many more benefits can be found in this Higher Education Academy report.
PASS/PAL is also a Leeds for Life opportunity that is recognised under the University's Higher Education Achievement Record (HEAR)
Contacts and further information
If you have any questions about PASS/PAL please contact Skills@Library.
You can also contact Schools directly for information about individual PASS/PAL schemes.
Further links:
- Pass National Centre
Information about the PASS National Centre, including background information - Teaching & Learning Support Office
PASS resources and materials - Higher Education Academy report (PDF)
For information about peer-learning across UK, The Higher Education Academy has produced this report.