Revamped
state-of-the-art center redefines peer-to-peer knowledge transfer to elevate
academic standards
In what is set to be a remarkable case study of the power of student-to-student
mentorship by ADU, Abu Dhabi’s Learning Support Center has achieved an
astounding 93% increase in ‘A’ grades among male participants, whil etheir female
counterparts have seen their ‘A’ grades soar by 88%, for an average increase of
91%.
Uplifted
by these results, the university has extensively renovated the center,
equipping it with state-of-the-art ICT facilities such as laptops, PCs and
wireless internet connections for smarter networking, while also revamping the
décor to create a friendlier, more relaxing environment for passionate
knowledge sharing. Highly gifted students volunteer to mentor their peers free
of charge, five days a week.
The
upgraded Learning Support Center was recently inaugurated by Dr Nabil Ibrahim,
Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University. Mrs Hala
Nazmy, the LSC Coordinator, explained the strengths
behind the center’s exceptional success: “We understand
that students learn better from other students, because they are inspired by young
role models who have studied the same courses and faced the same challenges. Tutoring
is only one part of the chain reaction, because the peer mentors also provide
advice and guidance to invigorate the students and transform them into
goal-driven achievers. Learning is meant to be an enjoyable journey of
discovery, so we eliminate all the pressure by having one-on-one interactions
and small, study groups.”
Over 1,000
students have benefited fromthe center’s services since its inception in 2012,
enjoying support outside the lecture rooms via two main channels: Peer Assisted
Learning and the Learning Community. Under Peer Assisted Learning, mentoring and
tutoring is spearheaded by students who have achieved exceptional academic
records, guided by the LSC
Coordinator. This has inspired higher
grades in core courses for Math and Science, Humanities and Social Sciences,
with assistance in additional courses available on request. Through the
Learning Community students can access support in courses offered by the University
College, although this is expected to expand to other programs.
Mrs Hala Nazmy concluded: “Due to the overwhelming
popularity of this center, we have put plans in place to
increase our operating hours and facilitate online collaboration among
students, giving them 24/7 access to guidance and motivation. We are also keen
to diversify our activities -and with more student mentors coming on board, we
can provide even more personalized attention for each student.”
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