What better way to revise than studying with a group of people. Kuen Cheng High School recruited student volunteers for a Peer Assisted Study Programme. The programme is on every Tuesday and Thursday from 8 to 9.30 pm for a period of two months. A briefing for the volunteers was held on the 4th of September at 1 pm sharp via Zoom video platform.
The briefing commenced with a warm welcome from the Principal, Dr Chua Lee Lee. She was delighted to hear about students’ overwhelming response towards the programme. During the pandemic, it could be challenging to focus in class or stay disciplined. A student can achieve good academic results when they have support from parents, teachers, friends and school, but the most important driving factor is still self-motivation.
Head of the Academic Department, Madam Loh Hoi Yuen moved on to explain the schedule. The first 10 minutes will be a meditation session, followed by a 20-minute book recommendation sharing. Meditation calms our minds from our hectic schedules and improves attention during the study session. During the sharing session, participants will be exposed to effective learning methods, memorization techniques and cognitive learning. Half the work, twice the effect. With the right approach to learning, we can achieve the desired results while not feeling overwhelmed.
So, what are the responsibilities of the student volunteers? The study programme is not private tuition. Thus, students need not feel tense. The volunteers can share their revision techniques, tips on focusing in class and time management. Hence, students are inspired by peers and try out their advice to improve their daily routine.
Next, Assistant Head of the Academic Department, Madam Tan Huei Chee shared the breakout room groupings. Each room will have 10 students at most. There were cases where the volunteers outnumbered the participants and vice versa. Adjustments will be made if necessary.
A Q&A session was conducted before the briefing was dismissed.
Q: Can student volunteers extend the study session if needed?
A: After the 60-minute study session, students can open their own Zoom meeting if they want to continue doing revision together. However, it is suggested not to go over the time limit to maintain work-life balance.
Q: What if the student volunteers could not solve the questions given?
A: Student volunteers are learning as well. They need not feel pressured when facing tough questions. Instead, they could look up the solutions online together. If it might take a while, they could come back to the question during the next session.
