Welcome to Peer Learning!

Welcome to a new semester of peer learning!  The peer learning team would like to take this opportunity to tell you some of the things that you can expect from peer learning groups this semester.

v  A chance to review the material.  Instead of cramming two nights before a test, regular attendance of peer learning groups makes reviewing for a test that much easier.

v  A place to help the student learn how to better organize the material presented in the class.  There are many different study strategies that a student can use and the lead academic mentor can help show the student how to best implement these strategies.

v  An improvement in grades.  Our experience has shown that constant attendance in peer learning will help improve your grades.  This is because the student is constantly reviewing the material and learning new study skills.

v  A chance to meet new people. Peer learning is a very informal setting and many of the people that you will meet in peer learning groups will probably be in some of your future classes.

v  A place where you can comfortably voice your questions and concerns.  Peer learning was created for students who should feel comfortable in any review session to ask questions.

There are also some things to NOT expect:

v  Peer learning to be led by individuals with masters and doctorates in the field.  Rather peer learning groups are usually led by undergraduate students who took the class before and did well in it i.e. ‘near peers’.

v  Help with the homework.  However, many of the concepts covered in the review sessions will help in the homework problems.

v  Extended review sessions for ‘last minute’ help so as to get a better grade on the test.  There have been about 12-15 review sessions already before the extended review and which can therefore not be summed up into 2 hours.  The lead academic mentor will do their best to cover the most difficult concepts.

v  Worksheets.  Although many people like worksheets sometimes they are not the best way to understand the concepts that were given in class.

Peer learning is a great way to continuously study for a class that is traditionally known to be difficult.  One of the goals of peer learning is for the student to learn new study strategies to implement in other classes.  If you have any questions or concerns about Peer Learning Groups, contact either your lead academic mentor or the Academic Mentoring Program Coordinator.  Hope you have a great semester.

The Peer Learning Team