Leveraging integrated peer-assisted learning clusters as a support for online learning

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a quick transition to online learning widely. This study examined the contributions of the peer-to-peer learning interactions within integrated peer-assisted learning clusters to learning among students in universities in Harbin, China, and Akure, Nigeria respectively. The frequency of peer-to-peer interactions in peer-assisted learning clusters in both locations were studied in 2019, and followed by a study to assess the changing characteristics and nature of the learning interactions during the transition to online learning in 2020. Data was curated using Excel, Origin-Pro, and Wordcloud generator. Approximately 60 % of the participants used social media for peer-to-peer learning interactions daily within their peer-assisted learning cluster before the transition. The frequency of usage of all the communication technology-mediated means of peer-assisted learning interactions considered during online learning except emails. The increase in the frequency of learning interaction among students in universities in Harbin ranges from 32.1 % to 94.4 %. Students in Nigeria could not make this quick transition because of other factors highlighted. The learning interactions within their online cluster contribute positively to the online learning of 83.6% of the participants. Peer-to-peer learning interactions was successfully leveraged in the transition to the online learning occasioned by the pandemic.

KEYWORDS:

• Peer-assisted learning
• e-learning
• COVID-19 pandemic learning
• university students
• online learning
• peer-to-peer interaction

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Oluwafolakemi Grace. Ala

Ala O G is a PhD candidate in the School of Economics and Management, Harbin Engineering University. She got her MSc in Information Resources Management at Babcock University. Her research interests include personality and learning differences in knowledge sharing.

Hongtao Yang

Yang H is a Professor in the School of Business Management, HuaQiao University, Quanzhou, China. His research interests include information curation and digital marketing.

Ayodeji A. Ala

Ala A. A is a Post-doctoral researcher in the College of Nuclear Science and Technology, Harbin Engineering University. He got his MSc in Nuclear Science and Technology at Alexandria University. His research interests include thermal-hydraulics, knowledge sharing and knowledge transfer.