What are PAN sessions?
Peer-Assisted Numeracy or PAN supports student success through weekly 50-minute interactive study groups. These groups are facilitated by 2 and 3rd year students (known as PAN facilitators), who were successful in first year and have been expertly trained to help develop your conceptual knowledge and confidence with the Numeracy required to be successful in quantitative papers across the university.
At PAN, we aim to provide an emotionally safe, concept driven numeracy learning environment, led by trained peer tutors in coordination with an expert in numeracy education. The programme aims to facilitate understanding of threshold Numeracy concepts through engagement with concrete materials and meaningful contexts in group sessions with structured discussions.
PAN sessions run from week 2 each semester, allowing you to regularly develop your knowledge in a safe, collaborative and interactive environment. The material covered in later sessions requires skills that you will develop in the earlier sessions. There are limited places available so please be prepared to commit yourself to attending all sessions in order to enrol.
Why should I register for PAN?
It is well known and established that high numeracy competency is a strong predictor of success in quantitative papers. It has been shown that university students whose numeracy competency is initially not very strong are able to gain the conceptual knowledge they need through engagement in a semester-long support programme.
A recent review of 29 peer support programmes in Australasia (Dawson, van der Meer, Skalicky and Cowley, 2014) found that:
- Students who attended 8 or more sessions had a higher final grade, compared to students who attended no sessions
- Students who attended peer support sessions reported greater satisfaction with their knowledge and improved confidence in applying their knowledge in new situations
- Students reported that peer support had helped to develop their sense of belonging and retention in their various institutions
Previous students enrolled in PAN at the University of Otago really valued the peer learning approach to delivery, reporting an increase in maths efficacy and a decrease in maths anxiety.
Do the Undergraduate Numeracy Assessment
The link to the UNA self-assessment is at https://numeracy.otago.ac.nz/
Register for a PAN session
Please register for only ONE session per paper.
The PAN timetable and registrations are usually available from Thursday of week 1 of each semester.
PAN sessions are offered at Student Learning Development (in the Link).
Notification of absence
Please ensure that you complete this form if you are going to miss a PAN session. If you are absent for two consecutive sessions, you will be unregistered from PAN. We have a very large waiting list for most sessions, so we need to monitor attendance closely.
If you would like to see a PAN session run at a time that is not yet offered, contact Student Learning Development reception to express your interest.
Tel +64 3 479 8801
Freephone 0800 808 098
Email hedc.studentlearning@otago.ac.nz
One-to-one numeracy consultations
If you would like a one-to-one session for help with study tips for numeracy or advice on a specific numeracy question, please email hedc.studentlearning@otago.ac.nz.
