Did you know that sitting in a classroom with your classmates on math or literature is called peer learning?
The modern term indicates a quite common thing. Peer learning is when people with similar knowledge or experience get together to learn and achieve shared goals. Why is peer learning a thing? First, it is more convenient to stick to people with the same interests. That would be strange to learn literature with peers engaged in chemistry.
Studying together through peer learning enhances the learning experience and builds core skills like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. This collaborative approach encourages active participation and fosters a supportive environment. In this way, individuals can learn from each other’s strengths and experiences.
Let’s discover what peer learning is and why it is important in highly digitized reality.
What is Peer Learning?
During peer learning, individuals learn together without a traditional instructor. Peers, learners, or students (whatever you will call them) share knowledge and experiences to boost mutual understanding. In other words, people come together to learn, to teach, to share knowledge, and to get knowledge. This is a higher form of collaborative learning. It is, in fact, more effective than traditional teacher-centered methods.
How Does Peer Learning Work in Real Life?
Many can recall being in a similar situation during their university days. The situation is as follows: waiting anxiously in the hallway, trying to recall everything you studied before the exam. When seeking clarification, you might approach a classmate to discuss a specific topic.
This form of learning, often unconscious, is called “peer learning” by educators. It has given rise to “peer teaching” as a teaching method. Let’s discuss its various perceptions in different settings.
In The Classroom
Advanced students support weaker peers in grasping complex subjects and theories.
The teaching model shifts towards cooperative learning or online collaborative learning. This promotes meaningful collaboration among active learners.
Authority transitions from teacher to student.
Helps develop leadership skills among students.
In The Workplace
An employee seeks project assistance or mentorship from a colleague.
Authority and responsibilities empower potential employees.
Establishes a safe work environment built on trust and transparency.
This fosters positive employee retention and strengthens company culture.
The Importance of Peer Learning in Online Education
Peer learning is, first of all, explaining concepts to each other in a more human language. This active engagement leads to a deeper understanding of the material compared to passive learning methods. Peer interaction also develops critical thinking and debating skills, and fosters a sense of community.
Benefits of Peer Learning
Shifting from the traditional learning method to peer learning may be chaotic and challenging, especially when the group lacks motivation and self-discipline. However, once the group dives into the process and takes control of the learning process, it embraces all the advantages of peer learning.
Active Engagement
Peer learning is supported by tools like Learning Management Systems (LMS), which promote active participation in the learning process, and encourage curiosity and collaboration in online learning environments. Interactive elements within learning platforms, like quizzes, discussions, and peer-led presentations, help create engaging learning experiences for learners.
Increased Motivation
Interactions with peers can boost motivation. Peer learning, especially with AI-powered collaborative learning assistants like Saima, makes learning more enjoyable. Importantly, it fosters a sense of shared purpose. Incorporating gamification elements into peer learning activities enhances motivation and participation.
Personalized Learning
Peer learning enables personalized learning experiences tailored to individual preferences. Learners can explore topics at their own pace and ask for help from peers. Additionally, peer mentoring programs allow more experienced learners to provide support. Peers are, at the same time, learners and mentors. Peer-to-peer learning becomes more intelligent and effective when integrated with adaptive learning technologies. Using the learner's data, adaptive learning customizes the pace and content of learning materials for a personalized experience.
Improved Communication Skills
Peer interactions enhance both verbal and non-verbal communication skills. They boost the clear expression of ideas. Besides traditional classroom discussions, peer learning platforms use multimedia features for real-time communication. These can be video conferencing and virtual whiteboards. Also, peer-led presentations and group projects let students practice good communication skills. They receive constructive feedback from peers to refine their communication abilities further.
Long-lasting Knowledge Retention
It is human nature to better recall information based on an example or discussion. That’s why collaborative learning experiences foster better retention of learning material compared to passive methods. This type of understanding occurs through active engagement. Moreover, repetition techniques like regular quizzes and review sessions will further improve long-term information retention.
Cost-effectiveness
Besides having all the obvious advantages, peer learning is about cost-effectiveness. The increased student engagement comes with reduced instructor time, aka reduced expenses for the instructor. Sharing within the group is not only about knowledge sharing but also about cost-sharing.
Drawbacks of Peer Learning
Despite significant advantages, there are several disadvantages to be considered. One of the big problems is the poor infrastructure, such as network issues, scheduling problems, and session timing. Also, the learning environment might not always be good for effective peer learning. Let’s discuss some other drawbacks.
Misinformation and Misunderstanding
Students might accidentally give the wrong information to peers. This can be confusing if not corrected by the teacher, and it can affect learning. Thus, clear guidance from instructors is essential. It helps ensure accurate information exchange. Teachers play a key role in addressing misconceptions. Their intervention maintains learning integrity.
Lack of expertise
Peers may not all have the same expertise or knowledge. This leads to incomplete or inaccurate information sharing, which can confuse learners. Instructors need to verify and correct any misunderstandings at the beginning. Providing clear guidance helps ensure accurate information exchange among peers. Additionally, offering resources for further study can cover knowledge gaps.
Social Dynamics
Group dynamics sometimes lead to conflicts that disturb productive learning interactions. Even within peer learning, students follow their learning pace, which is normal. Some students like peer learning, but others feel it adds too much work and lacks teacher help. Managing conflicts and providing support to session leaders may be necessary. This highlights the importance of valuing education-focused supervisors.
Language barrier
Language barrier is a challenge for online, offline, collaborative, personal, and peer learning. This will lead to reduced participation, comprehension difficulties, and limited collaboration. For students where English is the second language, there are multiple tools available to improve communication and collaboration skills.
Lack of Guidance
Peer learning is about students leading discussions, but some may need more teacher help with hard topics. Students might feel lost or unsure about how to approach complex topics. Without clear direction, discussions could become unproductive if not useless. Instructors’ support is crucial for ensuring effective peer learning experiences.
Difficulty Addressing Complex Topics
Peer learning might not be good for technical subjects that need lots of explanation from an expert. Addressing complex topics can be challenging in peer learning settings. Students may struggle to grasp intricate concepts without direct guidance. Moreover, discussions might lack depth or accuracy without the instructor’s expertise. Adding teacher explanations to peer learning can help with tough subjects.
Lack of motivation
The biggest challenge is motivation. Students might find it challenging to stay focused on external digital noises. To make peer learning work well, it's important to limit distractions and keep the learning space focused.
Peer Learning Strategies and Examples
Discussion Seminars
Discussion seminars often happen after lectures or assigned readings in college. Their purpose is for peers to discuss topics they have recently learned. These seminars are often informal, allowing students to contribute when they feel they have something valuable to say.
Peer Support Groups
Peer support groups, also known as private study groups, are set up by students, not teachers. They often meet after school or on weekends. Such events can boost motivation before exams or assignments. Working together helps students stay focused and overcome challenges.
Peer Assessment Schemes
Peer assessment schemes allow students to review each other’s work and provide feedback. The advantages include:
Observing how peers approached the task.
Gaining an understanding of peers’ cognitive processes and study methods.
Developing diplomatic skills.
Promoting critical thinking in addressing tasks.
Peer assessment usually cannot be used for formal tests that need quality checks.
How to Execute Peer-to-Peer Learning?
So far, we have explored peer learning from the perspective of a learner. What about the educator? How to adapt peer-to-peer learning culture?
First, take the time to assess the academic needs of your students. This can be achieved through surveys, interviews, or focus groups. By gathering feedback, you can gain valuable insights into their learning goals, styles, and interests. Next, ensure students are paired with the right mentors for effective learning.
When designing these activities, consider using different formats and methods. These include in-person or online meetings, group or solo work, and formal or relaxed settings. Also, be sure to use tools and platforms similar to those used for cohort-based learning. Those can be social media, blogs, podcasts, or gamification to support peer learning.
Once the activities are planned, it is time to monitor them. Provide ongoing feedback and support throughout the process. Measure how well things are going, how many students take part, and how they feel about peer learning.
Conclusion
Traditional education is no longer a thing. We now have extremely flexible and accessible education, with all the incentives for learners to expand their knowledge base. All you need to do is come and get it.
Peer learning is yet another dynamic and inclusive approach to education. It allows individuals to learn from each other’s diverse perspectives and experiences. The most important benefit of peer learning is that it empowers learners to take ownership of their education. It is, in fact, a unique experience promoting soft skills so much needed in a career path.