Peer Assisted Learning

This course is designed to introduce learners to the concept of Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) in health professions education. It focuses on the principles, types, benefits, and implementation strategies of PAL. Learners will understand how peer teaching enhances learning outcomes, promotes collaborative learning, and can be effectively integrated into medical and dental education.

No Certificate / Course on Audit Track

About Course

This course, Peer Assisted Learning in Medical Education, introduces learners to the concept and practice of peer-assisted learning (PAL) as an effective educational approach in healthcare settings. It explores how students learn collaboratively by teaching and supporting each other in structured environments. The module highlights the implementation strategies of PAL and its role in enhancing academic performance, communication skills, and confidence among learners. It also discusses the key benefits of peer-assisted learning, including improved understanding, active engagement, and development of teamwork skills essential for medical education.

Authorship and Attribution

This course has been curated by Riphah International University faculty and staff using publicly available third-party content and Open Educational Resources (OER) for self-paced learning. Learners will engage with curated open-access materials to achieve the course learning outcomes. All third-party content is used under open-access or fair-use policies, while any original materials are developed specifically for this learning experience.

Source and Credits:

  • Instructor: Tarpan Shah
  • Provider: YouTube (@TarpanShah)
  • License: Standard YouTube license

Source and Credits:

  • Instructor: MedEd
  • Provider: YouTube (@meded2711)
  • License: Standard YouTube license

What You'll Learn

By the end of this course, you will be able to: 

  • Define Peer Assisted Learning (PAL)
  • Differentiate between peer learning, peer teaching, and collaborative learning
  • Explain the principles and theoretical basis of PAL
  • Describe different models of PAL (near-peer, reciprocal, group-based)
  • Analyze the benefits and limitations of PAL in health professions education
  • Apply strategies to implement PAL in academic settings

Prerequisites

To be successful in this course, you should:

  • Basic understanding of teaching-learning process 
  • Familiarity with curriculum structure in health sciences

Who Can Take This Course?

This course is for Undergraduate dental and medical students, Postgraduate trainees and Early-career faculty in health professions education

Course Outline

Implementation and benefits to Peer Assisted Learning

Peer Assisted Learning- An Introduction (Video)

Why to Use Peer-Assisted Learning (Video)

Skills You Will Gain

Peer Teaching Skills Collaborative Learning Medical Communication Active Engagement Teamwork Development Concept Reinforcement Leadership in Learning Feedback Techniques

Course Information

Duration

Less than 1 Hour

Course Information

Difficulty Level

Beginner

Learning Mode

Fully Online (Asynchronous)

Learning Type

Self Paced

Language

English Only

Instructor/Curator

Course Instructor
  • Dr. Sana Iqbal profile image
    Dr. Sana Iqbal Assistant Professor, IIDC, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences (FHMS)