E-learning has become an integral part of education innovation today. It provides students and teachers with many benefits and additional learning support. Its revolution in education has brought together concepts such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, and online learning that were once foreign to educators. However, it has created new pathways for education, which is the most profound prospect.
Among these innovative methods is peer-to-peer learning. By definition, it involves students interacting and collaborating to reach educational goals. It is a learning support system that helps students learn, connect, and collaborate.
The benefits of peer-to-peer learning are endless. But to keep this article concise, we will highlight the five significant benefits of peer-to-peer learning and give you a better idea of this specific type of form of education and practice. So, let’s dive in.
Examples of Peer to Peer Learning
You might find it helpful to look at some examples of what peer teaching can look like if you haven’t seen it before. It may include:
- A senior student in college is leading a freshman-year experience course with a faculty member.
- Students in ESL classes assist their English native language peers in learning their native language.
- High school students learn how to code during a summer course while helping classmates.
These are just a few examples. Peer learning takes on many forms, from facilitated discussion groups to classes taught entirely by students.
What Are the Advantages of Peer-to-Peer Learning?
Recent decades have seen peer-to-peer learning become increasingly popular in numerous instructional settings due to the many advantages it has, which include:
Enhance Students’ Knowledge
Peer-to-peer learning increases a student’s knowledge and education. Peers and other students provide students with information not available in traditional classrooms and learning environments. Research shows that this has helped develop generic skills and metacognition.
Peers are likelier to share information and knowledge than authoritative figures like teachers and professors. A peer group is a group of people who share the same expertise and problems as you. As a result, a peer will understand why a student may not fully comprehend a particular subject or topic. Because of their language and understanding of the matter, they may be better able to explain it to students.
In peer-to-peer learning, students receive support outside of traditional learning environments. It can be in-person or e-learning sessions conducted on online study platforms. Such a platform promotes peer-to-peer learning by allowing students to learn from their peers’ experiences and knowledge.
Increases Students’ Involvement
Things tend to get dull and dormant in traditional classrooms, causing the students to lose interest. While in class, students listen to instructions and information. There is often no back-and-forth exchange, even when teachers try to engage them.
Peer-to-peer learning, however, increases student involvement, which aids their education, since they exchange knowledge. Every educational transaction revolves around cooperation and collaboration. Together, students study to perfect a particular subject or skill by learning from one another.
Through e-learning, this exchange can go beyond the walls of classrooms into the world of the online, providing 24/7 access to students seeking additional learning support.
Promotes a Healthy Learning Environment
The peer-to-peer learning environment is also beneficial because it fosters a healthy learning environment. Students can take part in the education process in a variety of ways. It also provides much-needed learning support beyond the restricted hours of traditional education.
Peer-to-peer learning online provides unlimited education access through e-learning in education. Compared to teachers, peers are willing to provide learning support to each other past school hours, despite the limitations of their jobs. As a result, there is a sense of union and friendship in the classroom. And so, it creates a healthy and happy atmosphere for learning.
May Lead to Improved Academic Results
Students may also achieve higher academic achievement through student teaching in some educational programs. There is little research on how peer teaching impacts student achievement, mainly because many factors can influence a student’s performance.
As a result, when students are motivated and engaged and receive more individualized assistance, they are more likely to succeed in school. When a peer teacher engages students in the material, they are more likely to develop solid understandings and feel motivated to do their best.
Conclusion
Students are more likely to achieve higher achievement in peer learning models where class sizes are small or if student-to-teacher ratios are low. As a result, each student receives individualized attention. Personalized instruction increases the chances of students with natural talents excelling beyond course objectives. Therefore, both parties benefit from the exchange.
