Benefits of PASS

Peer Assisted Learning at Athlone Institute of Technology's has benefits for:

  • First Year Students
  • PASS Leaders
  • Lecturers, and
  • Academic Schools and Departments

Benefits for First Year Students

Peer Assisted Student Support helps first year students:

  • adjust quickly to the demands of third level education
  • acquire a clear view of course direction and expectations
  • develop their independent learning and study skills to meet the requirements of higher education
  • enhance their understanding of the subject matter of their programme through collaborative group discussion
  • prepare better for assessed work and examinations
  • feel more at home among their peers
  • increase their confidence

PASS Benefits for Leaders

By becoming a PASS Leader, you can:

  • develop personal and professional skills such as leadership, time management, active listening, interpersonal communication, facilitation, and presenting
  • increase your confidence
  • enhance your Curriculum Vitae
  • gain credits or an accreditation for the PASS sessions you facilitate

Benefits to Lecturers

As a lecturer, you will see a number of benefits from Peer Assisted Student Support, including:

  • a reduction in the number of minor requests and queries from first year students
  • students who are better prepared for your lectures or/and tutorials
  • students who are better able to manage the course work and assignments you distribute to them
  • regular feedback from PASS Leaders

Benefits to Schools

Schools and departments that introduce Peer Assisted Student support to programmes can expect to reap the following benefits:

  • PASS creates links between classes across the programme, which can help develop a more cohesive culture in your school/department
  • the level of student involvement in - and ownership of - learning is increased
  • support can be targeted at the specific areas of a programme(s) that students find particularly challenging
  • PASS Leaders provide additional feedback for the Programme Boards.
  • Valuable additional student support which can be used to present the School or Department positively during institutional audits, subject reviews or marketing initiatives.