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Page History: Learning Path #1: What is Peer Learning?

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Page Revision: 2010/04/01 13:56


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

A bit about social learning and other learning theories - just a peek! The point of this section is to provide references for those who wish to understand the theory and research that sits beneath peer learning in the context of adult learning.

The importance of peer learning is situated in what we know about adult learning and social 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?

ADD THIS SECTION IN LATER

What Peer Learning is NOT!

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

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!) 19
























  • Informal Learning
    • Conner, Marcia L. "Informal Learning." 1997-2009.
      http://www.marciaconner.com/intros/informal.html "Informal learning" describes a lifelong process whereby individuals acquire attitudes,values, skills and knowledge from daily experience and the educational influences and resources in his or her environment, from family and neighbors, from work and play, from the market place, the library and the mass media.:"
    • From Jay Cross a short You Tube Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlETGJ0mnno (10 minutes Maybe not so short!)





  • Personal Board of Directors
    • http://www.schaefersblog.com/create-a-personal-board-of-directors-part-i/
    • http://www.jimcollins.com/article_topics/articles/looking-out.html





  • Self Help Groups/Support Groups
    • From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Support_group "In a support group,members provide each other with various types of help, usually nonprofessional and non material, for a particular shared, usually burdensome, characteristic. The help may take the form of providing and evaluating relevant information, relating personal experiences,listening to and accepting others' experiences, providing sympathetic understanding and establishing social networks."





References















Peer Learning Resources

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