1. Learning Development
Introduction to the
Peer Assisted Learning Leicester Award
Steve Rooney
Zoe Enstone
Marta Ulanicka
www.le.ac.uk/leicesteraward
www.le.ac.uk/slc

2. ‘Things I wish I’d known about studying at
UoL as a fresher’
www.le.ac.uk/leicesteraward
www.le.ac.uk/slc

3. What is Peer Assisted Learning?
“... a scheme that fosters cross-year support between
students on the same course. PAL encourages students to
support each other and to learn co-operatively under the
guidance of trained students, called PAL Leaders, from the
year above.”
(Bournemouth University, www.peerlearning.ac.uk)
PAL leader views (UWE)
www.le.ac.uk/leicesteraward
www.le.ac.uk/slc

4. What is the Award about?
• Build on your mentoring experience;
• Use your knowledge and experience to help others to learn;
• Refresh your own knowledge;
• Gain numerous new skills;
• Increase your employability and gain accreditation.
www.le.ac.uk/leicesteraward
www.le.ac.uk/slc

5. What will completing the Award involve?
• You will work in a team to design and lead a peer assisted
learning (PAL) activity.
• The PAL activity could take the form of:
– face to face sessions
– IT mediated support
– resource development
(or a mixture of the above)
• We will provide you with training and guidance to enable you
to undertake the activity.
www.le.ac.uk/leicesteraward
www.le.ac.uk/slc

6. Assessment of the Award
• Portfolio containing:
– evidence of at least 20 hours of peer assisted learning related
leadership activities (inclusive of
meetings, preparation, publicity etc) – if you are running face to
face sessions this should equate to around 6 hours contact time.
– skills audit completed during initial training
– 1500 – 2000 word reflective assignment or blog
– presentation materials
• Presentation drawing links between skills you have developed
and skills required by graduate employers
www.le.ac.uk/leicesteraward
www.le.ac.uk/slc

7. Timescales
• Information session: Tuesday 18th October
• First training session: Tuesday 25th October
• Second training session: Tuesday 1st November
• Deadline for peer support activity proposals: Monday 7th November
• Update 1: Friday 25th November
• Update 2: Friday 16th December
• Update 3: Friday 17th February
• Update 4: Monday 5th March
• Deadline for finishing PAL activity/last update: Monday 5th March
• Presentations: Monday 19th – Wednesday 21st March
• Deadline for submission of portfolio: Wednesday 28th March
www.le.ac.uk/leicesteraward
www.le.ac.uk/slc

8. What is the Leicester Award?
• Encompasses a range of employability courses and
programmes available to University of Leicester
students;
• Gives you the opportunity to gain a qualification
which encourages reflection and personal
development in a range of ways;
• Appears on your degree transcript;
• More information at www.le.ac.uk/leicesteraward.
www.le.ac.uk/leicesteraward
www.le.ac.uk/slc

9. What’s next?
• Complete the registration form;
• Come to the training sessions;
• Plan your PAL activity and submit
the proposal;
• Run the PAL activity.
We will keep in touch and support
you with the above!
www.le.ac.uk/leicesteraward
www.le.ac.uk/slc

10. Contacting us and staying in touch
www.le.ac.uk/leicesteraward
palaward@le.ac.uk
(0116) 2231889
2nd floor,
David Wilson library
www.le.ac.uk/leicesteraward
www.le.ac.uk/slc