Introduction

Quizzes, Tests, Papers…..Ugh!!! That is how I felt when I had to take those assessments to prove I knew how to do something. Collaborative intelligence was not something I understood or could recognize when I saw it. What I did know is when I sat with other colleagues and received their feedback, I felt more comfortable about their work. It was amazing to hear the various perspectives. Later, I came to realize; it was beyond critical feedback; it was peer-to-peer learning. University of the People (2020) defines peer-to-peer learning as “Peer to peer learning is an educational practice in which students interact with one another to attain educational goals (University of the People, 2020). Further, peer to peer learning “allows students to work through new concepts and material with other individuals engaged in the same work and provides them with opportunities to teach and be taught by one another, expanding their perspectives and fostering meaningful connections (University of the People, 2020).”

As an adult learner, especially in child welfare, employees needed to retain the information. Often supervisors and program managers were overwhelmed with cases. One of the surest things we had to do was depend on each other. Peer-to-peer learning was the key to keeping many case managers focused on their cases receiving regular peer feedback, which allowed them to progress and eventually close their cases. The below video shows a great example of how peer-to-peer learning as collaborative learning is implemented in the workplace, encouraging workplace learning:

I think about my primary and secondary years of school and how the teacher was responsible for learning. What I thought was terrific was seeing students involved in the teaching process of supporting each other. The below video does a great job of showing how students exhibit peer-to-peer learning and its impact on their performance:

Closing

Peer-to-peer learning allows students and work colleagues the opportunity of providing feedback, suggestions, and reviews in a "unique experience of working in a global community – a skill necessary for today’s professional culture (University of the People, 2020)." It creates a healthy culture where either the student and/or colleague are the facilitators and innovators of their learning which is transferable to any workforce, education, or community environment.

Reference:

​FMCSD Media. (January 17, 2019). Peer-to-Peer Learning. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFVHWQ5mpmg&t=12s.

Robert Sarder. (December 11, 2018). What does research say about social & collaborative learning in the workplace? By Robert Burnside. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9XbHtMAmG8.

University of the People. (2020). What is peer-to-peer learning? Retrieved by https://www.uopeople.edu/student-experience/quality/collaborative-peer-peer-learning/#:~:text=What%20is%20peer%20to%20peer,another%20to%20attain%20educational%20goals.