Peer-to-peer learning is more than a classroom strategy – it is a powerful way for children to build confidence, deepen understanding, and develop the social skills they will rely on for life. To better understand its impact, we spoke with Louisa Otto, Senior Research Education Specialist at Sanford Research, who offered thoughtful insights into why peer-to-peer learning works, how it supports child development, and what conditions help it thrive.
When asked how peer‑to‑peer learning supports long‑term growth, Louisa explains, “When a child learns collaboratively in a peer-to-peer setting they are more likely to be motivated and productive.” Shared goals matter, too. “If the children have a shared goal or a common interest, they will push each other in a positive wayto achieve their goal.” Beyond motivation, peer-to-peer learning has deeper developmental benefits. According to her, “Peer-to-peer learning allows children to develop skills in dealing with interpersonal conflict and even allows them to reexamine their understanding when presented with differing viewpoints.” These are the kinds of skills that carry into adulthood – communication, empathy, and the ability to navigate disagreement. She also points to the strong research base supporting these outcomes, “There is a very large body of research that shows that cooperative learning is incredibly valuable for learning new concepts, learning how to problem-solve, and developing communication skills. Educational researchers like Morton Deutsch and Robert Slavin have shown the benefits of collaborative learning,” she notes.
What Makes Peer-to-Peer Learning Most Effective?‑to‑Peer Learning Most Effective?
According to Louisa, consistency is key. She emphasizes, “It takes time to learn how to work in groups. Students need to be coached on how to have effective dialogue, how to give feedback, and how to address conflict. When this becomes an established norm, it allows peer-to-peer learning to be used in the most effective way.” She adds that autonomy strengthens engagement. “Educators should let groups set their own goals and expectations. This can include giving students choice in how they show their understanding and encouraging them to define expectations for one another,” she highlights.
Which Peer Learning Structures Work Best?
While there are many models such as peer tutoring, cross‑age mentoring and cooperative learning, she explains that one structure stands out. “Cooperative learning works well when a group is of mixed abilities but of a similar age group. Because of the natural power imbalance that happens between adult and child as well as older child to younger child, peer-to-peer learning is the most effective way to allow everyone to have an equal voice.” she says. Feedback also flows more naturally since students are also more likely to receive feedback from a peer than an elder. Louisa also recommends a group size of at least three students to allow for a more equal distribution of power, even if it’s just perceived power.
Common Misconceptions and How to Overcome Them
Many of us carry memories of group projects gone wrong. “All of us have had the experience of the dreaded group project where one person ends up doing most of the work and one person is completely missing. I think this causes us to shy away from creating group projects or using collaborative learning,” she says. Instead of avoiding group work altogether, Louisa recommends, “Consider providing enough scaffolding to help students along their way. This includes encouraging healthy dialogue in the classroom on the first day of school. Teach students how to disagree respectfully, and establish consequences when students are not meeting their peers’ expectations. Whenever possible, allow students to hold each other responsible before stepping in.”
How to Measure the Success of Peer-to-Peer Learning
Louisa believes that assessment should begin with clarity. She explains, “First, it’s important to determine what success looks like before you start. Is it important that the group project got done with all the appropriate content? Are you hoping to see work dividing equitably throughout the group? Are you measuring the ability to communicate, work through conflict, and resolve differences?” Louisa suggests using a rubric to make expectations clear. “A rubric is a great way to demonstrate to students what your vision of success is so they can make the goal together to accomplish it. A rubric could include items like content accuracy, unity of the project, division of labor, and peer feedback. Allow students to provide feedback to each other through a survey or rubric that allows you to understand how they felt it went,” she advises.
Peer-to-Peer Learning Beyond the Classroom
Louisa also emphasizes that not all peer-to-peer learning happens in a classroom. Children learn how to work together by watching the adults in their lives. If adults can solve conflicts with effective dialogue, children will emulate them. This includes parents, caregivers, coaches, and daycare providers. She highlights, “Never underestimate the power of role modeling. The best way to encourage children to work well together is to show them what it looks like when it’s done correctly.”
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