The effectiveness of peer learning in a vocational education setting

This New Zealand study involved classroom and workshop learning activity observations of four different trades (carpentry, painting and decoration, electrical and welding). Workshops were conducted to help students improve peer learning strategies. Comparisons of pre- and post-intervention data indicated an increase in feedback quality. Examination of peer learning interactions indicate most groups used effective peer feedback strategies, in turn, leading to an acceleration in students' skill acquisition. The study identified that not every student fits into a peer learning environment. This is because peer learning requires the application of basic communicative, conflict-management and attitudinal skills. It also identified the importance of providing quality intervention workshops to recommend peer learning to students. The report concludes with a set of guidelines for helping trades tutors to implement peer learning with their students. These provide a list of structured strategies for teachers to introduce peer learning activities into workshop-based practical learning activities and classroom-based theory learning activities.

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