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Learning Path #1: What is Peer Learning?
Peer learning is an educational process where peers interact with other peers interested in the same topic. It is when we learn with and from each other. We can do this formally, informally, while we are face to face, or online. We can do it at the same time, or we can learn from each other asynchronously by leaving messages, comments, emails or recordings back and forth between ourselves.
Adult Learning, social learning and other learning theories - just a peek!¶
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The importance of peer learning is situated in what we know about adult learning. (For more on adult learning, see
Adult Learning: An Overview by Stephen Brookfield.) A brief overview of the theory and research showing value of peer and social learning. Relating peer and social learning concepts with each other.
====What about children?
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===What Peer Learning is NOT!
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There are many ways we learn. Not all of them involve peers. But if you get creative, just about any solo learning experience can become peer learning. All you have to do is invite in at least one other person.
For example, self pace learning modules that rely solely on sequenced content is not peer learning. UNLESS you do it with someone else.
Listening to a recorded webinar is not peer learning, but the fact that someone else took the time to make previous interactions available to others is an indication of relationship and accountability to others - to peers - for learning. Teams are dedicated to completing a shared task in a specific time. But along the way, they can learn together.
The bottom line? We each know a lot. When we make that available to each other through both interactions and the artifacts of our interactions (summaries, blog posts, recordings) we all learn. That's peer learning!
===Related Approaches
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There are many terms and approaches that involve peers learning with and from peers. Some of them are very specific types of peer interactions. It is helpful to have some sense of these approaches. You may choose to use one or more of them in your work. Below is a short description of each one with a link to either a one-page overview or to an existing external resource on the approach. (Our goal here is not to reinvent things, but to make them easy to find and use!)
* Communities of Practice
- Learning together about things we do in our own practice
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* Learning Networks (thematic networks, personal learning networks) - Connecting to learn
FORMATTER ERROR (Malformed List)* Peer Coaching -
"We all need somebody to lean on..."
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* Mentoring - "Standing on the shoulders of giants" (at least those who have been in the game longer!)*
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* Action Learning - Learn by doing
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Informal Learning
FORMATTER ERROR (Malformed List)* Personal Board of Directors
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Self Help Groups/Support Groups
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===References
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Brookfield, Stephen (1995)
Adult Learning: An Overview in in A. Tuinjman (ed.) International Encyclopedia of Education. Oxford, Pergamon Press. [http://www.stocktonettc.net/tech/adultlearning/Adult%20Learning.pdf | http://www.stocktonettc.net/tech/adultlearning/Adult%20Learning.pdf} Accessed 2/19/10
* Cooper, Marie A., O'Donnell, Angela M. (Ed); King, Alison (Ed). (1999). Cognitive perspectives on peer learning. The Rutgers Invitational Symposium On Education Series. (pp. 215-233). Mahwah, NJ, US: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.
* Reushle, Shirley (2005)
Inquiry into a transformative approach to professional development for online educators. Thesis (_PhD/Research) (Unpublished)
http://eprints.usq.edu.au/1494/ Accessed February 2/19/10
Peer Learning Resources
