Academic and personal support
The Peer Learning Program provides a free program designed to provide a supportive environment for students to learn from others who have previously successfully completed the subject. The program is designed and delivered by the team at UOW College, so the information and guidance you receive will align with what you are studying in class.
Peer learning support is attached to specific subjects in the University Entrance Program, Foundation Studies Program, Diploma Programs and limited vocational programs. If you are still determining if support available for your course, reach out to find out about other academic support that may be available.
The program aims to help students learn by:
You can always be busy investing time into improving your study skills. However, learning how to be more effective at learning will make you more efficient and successful with your time.
Attendance is not compulsory but is highly recommended.
Each session will have on average five students will be scheduled for one hour in length, although you do not have to attend the whole hour.
There are both online and on campus options available. If you are attending an online session, then the Zoom or Webex links to the PALS sessions will be in the subject Moodle sites.
A College PALS session differs from your classes for each subject. For example, PALS strongly focus on “how to learn”, while a normal class tends to focus mainly on “what to learn”. Also, a PALS session is run by one of your peers, while an academic teacher runs a normal class.
Where possible, the three types of peer learning support will commence in Week 1 of College Academic session, although it might not be possible to set up PALS sessions until Week 2.
Details of the times and locations of PALS sessions will be provided during Week 1 lectures, by the PALS Leaders, and/or via SOLSmail. They will also be provided on the subject Moodle sites under the ‘support’ tab.
There are three types of peer learning support:
PAT learning support is embedded directly into selected subjects' tutorials or computer labs. It provides students with a second person to consult in class in addition to their regular teacher.
PALS provide students with support in a group work environment, facilitated by PALS Leaders. The course content is reinforced and revised, usually on a week-by-week basis. Also, where possible/appropriate, some PALS are aimed at breaking down assessments into manageable steps with the guidance of the PALS Leader. It is important to note that the leader does not do the assessment work for the students but can provide generalised feedback on student assessment work in progress. Attendance at PALS is optional, but highly recommended.
PAC provides students with individual one-to-one academic consultations with the peer learning staff. The PAC consultation may be a one-off, or can be weekly, dependent on the student’s requests and peer learning staff availability. PAC consultations occur outside of normal class times, at time(s) suitable to the student. A student may request an individual PAC consultation by speaking with their PAT Leader in the tutorial, or by asking their teacher, student mentor, or student advisor to pass their request on to the Peer Learning Program Co-ordinator.
In addition to reinforcement of the subject content, you learn study skills to help you have even more success in the subject. You also learn how to effectively participate in group study with your peers.
Yes, but the help is in the form of how to approach the assessment and manage your time accordingly. Your peer learning leader will not do an assignment for you.
Each PALS session is one hour in length, although you do not have to attend the whole hour.
PALS attendance is not compulsory but is highly recommended.
The Peer Assisted Learning Program is free of charge for all College students.
The Peer Learning staff are current university students who have already successfully completed the subject, or an equivalent subject.
The average number of people in a College PALS session is five, although this does vary to some extent.
A College PALS session has a strong focus on “how to learn”, while a normal class tends to be mainly focused on “what to learn”. Also, a PALS session is run by one of your peers, while a normal class is run by an academic teacher.
Information is provided during your classes in week 1 of session, and on your subject Moodle sites. You can also find information by contacting: UOWCA Peer Learning Coordinator
I feel it’s very rewarding work and I know when I was a student, I took advantage of the Peer Learning Mentors to help me. The College set me up for success and I tell everyone, even if they don’t need to go through the College they should because it was the foundation that I needed in order to create a bright future for myself.
If you have any questions about Peer Learning Support including study help or becoming a Peer Learning Leader, contact Jann Duxbury-Roberts at jroberts@uow.edu.au
