Report on Peer-to-Peer Learning's Impact on Student Independence

This report, prepared for an English for Academic Studies course, investigates the impact of peer-to-peer learning on student independence. It begins by defining peer learning, tracing its historical roots, and outlining various models, including proctor models and cooperative learning. The report then delves into the benefits of peer learning, such as enhanced individual learning, improved communication skills, and increased student confidence, while also acknowledging potential disadvantages like over-reliance and gaps in knowledge. The core focus is on how peer learning fosters student independence through self-assessment, problem-solving, and independent decision-making. The report concludes by emphasizing the significance of peer learning in developing well-rounded individuals capable of independent thought and action, supported by references to relevant research and literature. The report underscores the importance of peer learning in fostering independent thinking and problem-solving skills, ultimately preparing students for future academic and professional endeavors.

Running head: ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC STUDIES
English for Academic Studies
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Executive Summary
The aim of this report is to find out that how peer to peer learning can help the students to
become independent. To find out the importance of peer to peer learning research has been
conducted and the outcomes has been analyzed. Through this report it has been proved that peer
to peer learning has a lot of benefits and at the same time it helps students to become
independent.

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Peer learning Then and Now...........................................................................................................3
Benefits of Peer Learning................................................................................................................5
Disadvantages of Peer Learning......................................................................................................6
Ways in which Peer to Peer Learning promote Student Independence...........................................7
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................8

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Introduction
Peer learning indicates students teaching or learning from other fellow students. Peer
learning is not a new concept in education it involves a broad range of activities. According to
the researchers of University of Ulster there are ten models of peer learning, with the oldest one
being the Proctor Model in which the junior students are taught by the senior students. The
innovative current form of peer to peer learning include innovative learning cells where students
from same year form groups to study together and also share personal problems. The other
models of peer learning include discussion groups, self-help groups, private study, seminars, peer
assessment, mentoring at workplace, and various community services. This report is going to
focus on the fact that how peer to peer learning can make the students independent learners. The
following paragraphs will talk about peer to peer learning and how it can benefit the students and
the ways through it will make the students independent.
Peer learning Then and Now
Peer learning is not at all a new concept, throughout the history peer earning has been
encouraged, it can be seen in Aristotle’s idea of Archons or the student leaders and in the letters
of “Seneca the Younger” (Brown 2015). The theory was first organized by Andrew Bell, who
was a Scotsman in the year 1795 and later this organized theory was implemented in the French
and English schools. Over a period of time peer learning methods has become popular and the
educational institutions has taken interest in finding better and more efficient methods of
teaching (Boud, Cohen and Sampson 2014). Peer learning is different than peer instruction,

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which is a relatively recent concept, while peer teaching or learning means that one student will
teach another student or they will both learn together by sharing their respective knowledge.
According to Goodlad and Hurst there are several peer learning methods at college level.
In reputed universities, surrogate teaching is a common method of peer learning, in this method
the older experienced students teach the younger students or take responsibilities to mentor some
of the undergraduates. Students who are ahead in studies than their batch-mates or have recently
have done quite well in their academic front they participate in one to one tutoring programs or
proctoring programs (Chiu and Hew 2017). In cooperative learning method, classmates divide
themselves into small groups and everyone in each of the groups take responsibility to teach
others, each of the members contribute something unique in the group. There is another type of
peer learning in which is more specific in nature in terms of co-operative learning; in this
process, the entire class is divided into pairs where both of them tutor each other it is called
Reciprocal peer tutoring (Kulkarni et al. 2015). According to research, peer learning encourage
spirit of team building and students learn to become supportive; improves psychological health,
increases social skills, communication skills and self- confidence; and ensures higher chances of
achievement and enhances productivity through advanced learning outcomes.
Peer learning becomes advanced when solidified as an irreplaceable piece of an
instructive projects, giving watchful thought to influence a good figuring out how to condition.
Understudies must frame shared respect for and trust and trust in each other, with the objective
that they don't falter to express suppositions, test contemplations, and demand, or offer help
when it is required (Kupczynski et al. 2014). Companion learning can be also enhanced if nature
of shared help continues after some time and past the classroom. In this way, understudies are

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independently and overall in charge of streamlining their own particular learning and
achievements.
Benefits of Peer Learning
There are several benefits of peer learning, they are as follows:
 Individual learning is an important part of gaining knowledge it enhances self-confidence
and promotes individual thought process (Richards 2015). Peer learning helps in
individual learning, thus in a way peer learning leads to honing of individual skills.
 The students have to interact with one another to take part in peer learning, this ensures
gaining knowledge in an active way (Lundberg 2014). Students take individual initiative
to learn new things, it can be said that peer learning methods encourages active learning.
 Peer to peer learning leads to better form of interaction between the students, this
enhances communication skills and this prove beneficial for the students in their
respective future.
 The tutors who participate in peer learning activities also at the same time revise the
things that they have learned while teaching the others, it becomes beneficial to both the
tutor and the student.
 Most of the times the students feel uncomfortable to approach the professors or their
respective teachers to ask any questions or to clear any doubts but this does not happen in
peer learning (Taylor 2017). In the case of learning from their peers the students feel free
to communicate with them, thus there are no gaps left in their knowledge.
 As the students and the peers have the same mindset and similar level of understanding
thus it become easier for them to communicate and understand the knowledge process.

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 While providing the above-mentioned benefits peer learning also provides financial
advantage (Mastropieri and Scruggs 2017). The institutions does not require hiring more
staffs, instead the students can act as teachers to their fellow batch mates or the juniors.
 In cooperative peer learning and group learning the students can clear their doubts with
their peer tutors so the teachers get more time to move on to the next chapters or lessons.
Disadvantages of Peer Learning
There are certain disadvantages of peer learning as well:
 As the students work with their friends or people of same age they may not give that
much importance and can ignore the tasks or lessons.
 There can be gaps in learning as the tutors are themselves students and they do not have
that much experience in teaching or much knowledge about the lessons.
 Peer learning does not promote healthy relationships between students and teachers, if the
students can discuss on their own and learn their lessons, this practice does not promote
proper learning with adequate help from the teachers (O'Donnell and King 2014).
 The students can become overconfident, as they are learning on their own without any
help from the teachers they may start to believe that they know everything and they do
not need any help from the experienced teachers and professors.
 Within the student groups, the individuals who act as peer tutors may take charge up to a
greater level and thus the others might not get any chance to do anything or contribute in
the activities of the group.

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Ways in which Peer to Peer Learning promote Student Independence
 Peer learning helps the students to communicate with one another and learn about their
own mistakes and understand their own strength and weaknesses. Through peer
assessment the students will learn whether their goals, aims and strategies are on right or
not, from the peer tutors the students can take independent decision about which path to
follow
 Asking questions is very important to gain complete knowledge about something, in a
class a student may feel shy or feel awkward to ask any question directly to the teacher
(Reid, Chau and Thalluri 2016). In case of peer learning the students will not feel shy to
ask questions and they will feel free to ask questions to their tutors who can be their
friends or seniors and thus they will not stay depended on their professors to answer their
questions.
 Peer learning will help the students to deal with their problems on their own, to analyze
their own situation and to find out a solution with the help of their friends (Reinholz
2016). This will also help them in their future to understand and judge their own problem
and to solve them on their own. Thus peer learning makes a person learn to be
independent in their future as well.
 While learning with their friends the students plan everything on their own, the lesson
plans, the ways to execute it, all are decided by the students independently.
 The students also monitor their own academic progress. In peer learning the students
monitor their own academic progress and they can improve accordingly on their own.
They become the judge of their own work and they do not depend on others.

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Conclusion
To conclude it can be said that peer learning is very important for the students to learn to
work with one another grow their communication skills and to learn how to work as an
independent individual. Peer learning makes one learn with the help of their fellow mates
through exchange of knowledge and discussions. Learning to be an independent person is the
most essential part of growing up thus peer learning should be encouraged in order to make a
person a complete individual completely capable of making their own choice and learn from
others, choose their own dreams and one who knows how to achieve those goals.

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Reference List
Boud, D., Cohen, R. and Sampson, J. eds., 2014. Peer learning in higher education: Learning
from and with each other. Routledge.
Brown, G., 2015, October. Self and peer assessment. In Assessment & Grading Seminar Series.
Chiu, K.F. and Hew, K.F.T., 2017. Asynchronous online discussion forum in MOOCs: Does
openness matter for peer learning and performance?. Australasian Journal of Educational
Technology.
Kulkarni, C., Wei, K.P., Le, H., Chia, D., Papadopoulos, K., Cheng, J., Koller, D. and Klemmer,
S.R., 2015. Peer and self assessment in massive online classes. In Design thinking research (pp.
131-168). Springer, Cham.
Kupczynski, L., Mundy, M.A., Goswami, J. and Meling, V., 2014. Cooperative learning in
distance learning: a mixed methods study. International Journal of Instruction, 5(2).
Lundberg, C.A., 2014. Peers and faculty as predictors of learning for community college
students. Community College Review, 42(2), pp.79-98.
Mastropieri, M.A. and Scruggs, T.E., 2017. The inclusive classroom: Strategies for effective
differentiated instruction. Pearson.
O'Donnell, A.M. and King, A. eds., 2014. Cognitive perspectives on peer learning. Routledge.

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Reid, P., Chau, M. and Thalluri, J., 2016. Students' experience and evaluation of peer-to-peer
learning innovation. Focus on Health Professional Education: A Multi-disciplinary
Journal, 17(1), p.101.
Reinholz, D., 2016. The assessment cycle: a model for learning through peer
assessment. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 41(2), pp.301-315.
Richards, J.C., 2015. The changing face of language learning: Learning beyond the
classroom. RELC Journal, 46(1), pp.5-22.
Taylor, E.W., 2017. Transformative learning theory. In Transformative Learning Meets
Bildung (pp. 17-29). SensePublishers, Rotterdam.