Encourage Peer-Based Learning In Your Organization
It has been observed that learners learn best when they learn in a collaborative environment where they can share ideas and knowledge with others like them. There is a term for such learning, called peer-based learning, and it has been used by corporate organizations to help employees/learners learn from each other, lessening some of the pressure off of an organization’s L&D team. However, peer-based learning doesn’t happen on its own, at least not in an effective manner, which is why there is some effort required from an organization’s L&D team to implement and kickstart a system where peers (i.e., the employees/learners of the organization) learn in a reciprocal and mutually beneficial manner.
The most important aspect of peer-based learning is perhaps feedback, which allows learners to hear from their peers and in turn tell them what they think of the organization’s digital learning program. In this article, we’ll discuss 10 ways an organization’s L&D team can facilitate peer-based learning feedback.
1. Teach Learners How To Give Feedback
In order for peer-based learning to function, it is important that learners know how to provide feedback. Teach learners to always give positive feedback, ask each of them to come up with a list of statements which are positively reinforcing. Also, tell them that feedback isn’t always required. Secondly, teach learners to provide corrective feedback to their peers (i.e., if a learner has given an incorrect answer, their peer must tell them that their choice is incorrect, followed by the correct answer along with why the said answer is correct).
2. Ask Learners To Discuss And Provide Feedback On Webinars
Have your learners attend a webinar and then ask them to discuss that webinar with their peers and offer feedback. This fosters a sense of community and also opens up learners to the peer-based learning feedback process.
3. Have Advanced Learners Help
In every organization, there are always learners who are far ahead of their peers, if only in certain topics or subjects. Utilize these learners, and get them to tutor the weaker learners whenever they find the time. Ask the weaker learners to give feedback to the advanced learners, and vice versa.
4. Use A Reward System To Motivate Learners To Provide Feedback To Peers
Learners may not always be ready to provide or receive feedback to or from their peers. A good way to ensure that they do is to motivate them using a reward system. Taking a page from gamification, you could award points to learners every time they provide feedback to their peers. The points along with their names could go on a leaderboard, and at the end of the month or quarter or year, the person with the most points could be given an actual, tangible reward.
5. Give Learners Team Projects
Give your learners a digital learning course that requires them to use their heads and solve it collectively. Once they do solve it, give each of them a feedback survey consisting of questions like “List the strengths of each group member” “Who do you think performed the best?” and “What do you think could have been done better?”
6. Ask Learners To Write Weekly Blogs
Ask each of your learners to pen down their thoughts in a blog regarding subjects from their industry or training, and then ask other learners to read and leave feedback in the comments. Give points for each blog written and each feedback left.
7. Ask Learners To Review Scenarios And Simulations Completed By Others
This will require that each scenario and simulation attempted by learners is recorded. Then, ask their peers to provide feedback, such as mistakes made and ways to improve or even just compliments and approval.
8. Ask Learners To Take Sessions On Subjects They’re Good In
To ensure that your learners can provide good peer-based learning feedback, you need to turn them into tutors. Ask them to record a session or give one live to their peers on a subject, topic or skill they have good knowledge in. Other learners who view the session will provide feedback on it.
9. Ask Learners To Build Their Own Digital Learning Course
Have them create a digital learning course from scratch on a subject they know inside out. This will help them understand digital learning better. Their peers will take that course and then provide feedback on it.
10. Pair Learners With Learning Designers And SMEs
Involve every member of your L&D team in peer-based learning. First, ask designers and SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) to conduct one-on-one sessions with their partner learner to teach them skills or discuss subjects, and then have your learners and their partner designer or SME give each other mutual feedback.
