Overview of Peer-Led Team Learning

Peer led team learning (PLTL) is one of the new teaching methodologies which is based on the idea that students are divided into teams and each team member becomes a teacher to the other members. This method makes students get involved, participate, and be responsible for what they learn. Therefore, it makes learning to be complemented and communication skills are enhanced.

What is Peer Led Team Learning?

Peer led team learning is a teaching model that involves the use of peers in the process of learning. The students are also urged to have peer tutoring with the intention that the bright students will help their colleagues.

• The City College of New York was the first to implement this method in their Chemistry courses. They cut down the lecture time and replaced it with activities involving students and the result was the transformation of the students’ attitude and performance.
• The effectiveness of this strategy is based on the opportunity to use the abilities of the high-achieving students to assist others, thus promoting a culture of cooperation and inclusion.

Integrating peer activities into the curriculum benefits students as it improves their understanding, decreases their social phobia, and sharpens their problem-solving skills. In the process of education development, PLTL is one of the successful models for students’ success and attendance.

What are the Differences Between Peer Led and Traditional Learning?

Peer-led learning and traditional learning are two different types of learning that have their strengths and weaknesses. It is crucial to distinguish between these approaches so that educators and learners can select the most appropriate strategies to fulfill their educational objectives. Here is a comparison between peer-led and traditional learning:

Aspect	Peer Led Learning	Traditional Learning
Approach	Collaborative and democratic, all students are equal	A top-down and rigid, clear distinction between instructor and students
Course Structure	Emphasizes collaborative exercises with few recitation lessons	Instructor-led lessons with many recitations
Interaction	Encourages collaborative teamwork among students	Hierarchical instructor-student interactions
Leadership	Peer leaders guide activities	Instructors guide the entire class
Focus	Problem-solving skills and conceptual understanding	Questions from students and answers from the instructor
Flexibility	High flexibility with adaptable course materials	Low flexibility with a rigid learning schedule

 

Peer led learning also assists the students to be on their own when learning, enhancing on their performance and satisfaction. Thus, the educator will be able to construct a positive and productive learning process having a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of each approach and contributing to the students’ success and further evolution.

The Benefits of Peer-Led Team Learning

Peer led team learning can help improve academic performance, reduce anxiety levels, and problem-solving skills. Therefore, the given approach not only enhances personal knowledge but also contributes to the development of a mutually supportive learning environment.

• Conceptual Understanding: Peer led team learning enables students to grasp concepts that are hard to comprehend. Groupwise students are normally allowed to discuss and search more on the materials they are working on. It helps enhance the understanding of any difficult information.
• Social Anxiety Relief: It lowers situational anxiety, particularly for subjects that the students may not like or find difficult to understand. The support from peers helps to maintain a less pressuring environment hence the students are more relaxed and confident.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Peer led team learning is the idea of collaborative problem-solving. This method helps develop students’ interpersonal skills and improves their problem-solving skills because they have to seek solutions in groups, thus sharpening their real-life skills.

Peer led team learning can help in enhancing the grades of the students, reduce stress, and also help in solving problems. This increases the understanding process of each person and the backing of a learning community.

Implementation of Peer-Led Team Learning in School

Organization and support are two of the most important components to have a successful implementation of peer led team learning. Proper implementation can bring positive effects on students’ outcomes can be optimized.

• Integration with Course: Inclusion into the curriculum as a result makes the students appreciate the importance of peer-assisted learning. In the circumstances where peer led sessions are incorporated in the course, the students are more likely to be more active in their learning.
• Instructor’s Involvement: Many times, the instructors are involved in the process of encouraging and coordinating the peer-led sessions. Their participation guarantees that the sessions are as relevant as possible and offer support to the peers who lead the sessions.
• Leader Training: Training of peer leaders is highly recommended for the program to be effective. When leaders are trained well, they can lead their peers in a constructive manner which enables efficient learning.

Peer-Led Team Learning at International School Ho Chi Minh City

ISHCMC is a high-quality secondary school Ho Chi Minh. At ISHCMC, peer led teaming is one of the main approaches to learning. This approach is consistent with the school’s profile which promotes a supportive learning culture and teamwork.

• Diverse Environment: ISHCMC is an international school having children from different countries, which makes them work with different children and learn from one another. This is encouraging because diversity brings different views and concepts into studying.
• Supportive Community: It is a safe place for the students to be themselves and express their views. This environment helps the student to feel comfortable and have a positive attitude to learning.
• Comprehensive Programs: At ISHCMC, our wide-ranging programs enable students to learn from their peers to improve their academic and interpersonal abilities. These programs ensure students are ready for future leadership responsibilities with a focus on teamwork and problem-solving skills.

Learn how this peer led team learning works at ISHCMC and why your child will benefit from it while studying in a diverse and inclusive environment. Contact the ISHCMC admissions team today for more information on how to select a school for your child and learn more about the possibilities offered at this exceptional school.