Peer to Peer Interaction
Overview
Social learning (learning with and from others) helps students make meaningful connections between content and the real world. Peer-to-peer interaction can take place during class or as a supplemental activity. In class, activities like “Think-Pair-Share” and whole-class discussions promote critical thinking and offer diverse perspectives on a complex issue. Outside of class, encourage students to use virtual meeting platforms and engage with one another via discussion posts, peer-reviewed papers, and group projects.
Types of Peer to Peer Interaction
In person Discussions
A good class discussion can deepen learning for all students (even those who don’t participate). Include clear guidelines for preparing for the discussion and take time to go over discussion norms and expectations.
Online Discussions
Online discussions offer students an opportunity to engage with their peers outside the classroom (or in online courses). Structure online discussions to require ongoing back-and-forth through problem solving or project planning.
Group Activities
Group activities and projects have a lot of benefits for learning. Break up a large project into milestones for consistent interaction. Use team charters to clarify roles, expectations, deliverables, and how to handle conflict.
Additional Resources
There are many resources about peer to peer interaction. Here are a few options to get you started:
- Active Learning Strategies (from the Instructional Resources Knowledgebase)
- Fostering interaction (from the Course Success Self-Review)
- Canvas Discussions (from the Canvas Instructor Guide)
- The Discussion Project (an in-depth professional development course for instructional staff run by the School of Education)