Hello colleagues, Some time ago, I recall reading some research that showed that when engaged in reviewing a peer's writing, the reviewer's writing improved more than the student receiving the review. In other words, the act of offering guidance and support to someone else ends up having a positive impact on one's own work.
Today I came across a recent study that affirms this result. The research showed that when students advised one another this had a positive effect on their own academic performance. In this case, students were advising a younger student, and the results were pretty dramatic. The students who were advising the younger students improved their own grades and maintained that improvement over more than a semester. The authors of the study suggest that giving advice to another has a positive impact on a student's confidence. It may be the increased confidence that leads to improved outcomes.
As the authors stated, these results would seem to be in line with the Seneca quote, "When we teach, we learn." I'm curious if teachers have seen similar outcomes in their practice when students help one another in class.
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Cheers, Susan Finn Miller
Moderator, Teaching & Learning CoP