Original URL: http://www.peerlearning.ac.uk/html/activities_and_tools_for_pal_s.html
(Copy taken 7 Dec 2003. Format roughly edited to make it more printable.)

Activities and Tools for PAL Sessions

A Peer Assisted Learning session may work very well as a general discussion forum, with first years reviewing together their course material and the Student Leader helping to direct discussion. At times, it will be useful for the Student Leader to have activities and tools to use. Some of these are listed below. They are adapted from the Leader´s Guide produced by Center for Supplemental Instruction at the University of Missouri - Kansas City.

See also training leaders to access various handouts concerned with managing PAL sessions.

Lecture Review

During the first 10-15 minutes of the PAL session, students summarise the most recent lecture, or identify key points from it; students find specific support in their lecture notes for generalisations made; students arrange terms from the lecture into a structured outline; students write a one paragraph summary of the lecture; students formulate potential exam questions based upon the lecture.

Oral Reading of Lecture Notes

Note review is a good strategy to use early in the academic term- students see the importance of taking notes, can fill in gaps in their notes, and everyone has a chance to participate.
One student begins reading from their notes at the start of the lecture, reads for a minute or two, then moving onto the next person around the room with each person continuing where the one before left off. Any inconsistencies are discussed and notes amended accordingly.

Incomplete Outline

The Incomplete Outline helps students recognise the main points and pattern of a lecture. In small groups or pairs, students break a lecture down into 3-5 main points. Each group/ pair then compares their summary.

Visual Techniques

Some students learn well by creating visual aids (or mind maps) condensing notes and helping point out the relationship between topics.

Informal Quiz

In pairs, students think of five or so questions from their previous week´s lectures. They choose another pair to answer one of their questions, who try to answer, followed by a group discussion. This pair then goes on to ask one of their questions.

Vocabulary Activities

A clear understanding of the technical vocabulary in most courses is important. Students may be given some time to identify new technical terms from a lecture, then to create a vocabulary matrix on the board, as below:
Term Meaning Example from Notes Example from Text New Example
         
         

Quick Presentations

Presentations may be used inside PAL sessions to help students review key course material and practice presentation skills. It may be particularly useful at the end of term or other appropriate `review´ occasions. The format of the session is likely to be:

Preparing for Exams