Peer learning (or “peer learning”) is attracting more and more companies. A true teaching method, it has many advantages, both for the company and for the learners.
What exactly is it about? And how do you set it up within your company? We give you all the keys in this article!
What is the Peer learning ?
Definition and concept of peer learning
The Peer learning as well as the Social learning are based on collaboration between learners and the sharing of mutual knowledge. The objective is not only to share knowledge with colleagues, but to be in a logic of mutual exchange of knowledge.
This learning method has a multitude of benefits. It not only allows strengthen social and cognitive relationships within a team. It also gives learners the opportunity to be actor in their learning, and therefore, to assimilate each concept more easily.
And above all, it's a great way to reconciling training requirements with corresponding content. Your employees can express their training needs without fear of being evaluated, and colleagues can share their knowledge based on their respective expertise. It's only a positive thing!
Harvard and the Newtonian force: the origins of peer learning
Peer learning originated in 1991 at Harvard University in the United States. At that time, Eric Mazur, who had been a professor of physics for several years, taught this subject in a traditional way. The feedback from his students and the management is also very good.
But one day, Eric Mazur comes across a questionnaire from Professor David Hestenes, whose objective to assess the knowledge of students about the concept of Newtonian force. To the great surprise of Professor Mazur, and after sharing the questionnaire with his class, his students did not have Almost understood nothing to the concept! They were able to solve complex equations using advanced mathematical rules, but they did not know how to transfer this knowledge to another field.
A few months later, professor Eric Mazur took a break from his class, after having tried in vain to explain the concept of Newtonian force to his students once again. It was then that he observed something strange: students would get up in the room to discuss, exchange or debate on the subject. A few minutes later, and after sitting down in their seats, one of the students took advantage of the calm to say: “It's good for us, you can continue.” Peer learning was born.
A new pedagogical approach
Based on this observation, Professor Eric Mazur decided to draw a conclusion: classical lectures are ineffective. He then developed a new pedagogical approach in 4 stages:
- Students get educational materials in advance in order to find out about it at home. It is important that they arrive at the course already having certain concepts in mind, to facilitate the exchange.
- In class, the teacher gives them a summary of the theme addressed and a multiple choice questionnaire (MCQ) on a conceptual concept. It is not a question here of solving problems through equations or written arguments. Students should also share their level of confidence in their answers.
- Then it's time to reflect. Each student should think “in their own corner”, without involving other learners or the teacher. Eric Mazur even specifies that silence must reign. Once these questionnaires have been completed, the professor takes note of the results obtained. Below 30% success, the concept is not understood at all. He must therefore re-explain the concept masterfully. Between 30 and 70% success, it is time for students to convince each other of the choices they have made. This makes it possible to validate their knowledge, to confront their ideas and to deepen certain notions. After talking for a few minutes, it's time to vote again, while sharing your level of trust. Above 70%, the concept is generally understood, the teacher can give the exact answer and move on to the next subject by starting from point no. 2.
Thanks to this new learning method, Eric Mazur has observed an increase in the number of good results, but also in the confidence of learners. The good news is that what Eric Mazur applied in his class at Harvard can be applied within a company.
The advantages of Peer learning
Foster understanding
The Peer learning is ideal for promote understanding and encourage collaboration within your team. After the Covid-19 pandemic and its imposed teleworking, it is more than essential to create links in teams. Moreover, this collaboration makes it possible to better understand complex concepts. Employees will tend to popularize information and to transmit it better than a teacher in a classroom.
Improving memorization
It is also proven that learning by doing and through informal exchanges allows better memory.
In educational engineering, it is estimated that 90% of the knowledge acquired would be acquired through these informal methods. There is evidence that the engagement of learners in Peer learning increases the ability to remember different types of knowledge.
A profitable method
The Peer learning Is a training method very inexpensive. There is no need to hire a trainer, rent a room or provide additional equipment. Learning takes place on your premises, and sometimes informally.
How to develop the Peer learning in my business?
The effectiveness of traditional training is increasingly being questioned. Employees are reluctant to train, and the completion rate of some e-learning courses (Like MOOCs) is catastrophic. To overcome this, some companies are turning to new educational alternatives. The Peer learning is one of them.
Mentoring vs Coaching
Before you get interested in peer learning, it is important to differentiate between the two main areas of peer learning.
- The Peer-Mentoring refers to the training of a collaborator by peers with more experience. Here, the learning approach is “top-down” and the “trainer” employee adopts an expert position in relation to the learner. This axis focuses mainly on the acquisition of skills and the development of the employee's professional experience.
- The Peer-coaching is much more horizontal and focuses on the personal development of the employee and the development of its skills. The idea here is to value shared experiences and to consolidate one's knowledge, while strengthening that of others.
Concrete application of peer learning in business
The Peer learning can be adopted by the company throughout the employee's life: from their interest in the brand toOffboarding, through its onboarding and his training in the company.
- Employer brand: Make new talent want to join your ranks. Highlight your brand ambassadors on your careers page.
- Recruiting: allow your candidates to meet team members to learn more about the company.
- Onboarding: Familiarize your new talents with your company's environment and tools thanks to the members of your team who are experts in the field. Do not hesitate to organize 1:1 appointments to create relationships quickly.
- Training and development: create group training programs on specific topics to promote the development of your employees.
- Offboarding: organize the departure of your employees in the best conditions by analyzing the data collected during peer learning. These former employees can remain very good ambassadors for your brand.
There you go, you have all the keys to implementing a peer learning strategy. This effective and profitable teaching method is often appreciated by employees. But it is also a real strategic advantage for your business. Don't miss out on this opportunity!
