Citation
Muñoz-García, Miguel Angel and Moreda Cantero, Guillermo P. and Hernández Sánchez, Natalia and Valiño López, Vanesa
(2012).
Student Reciprocal Peer Teaching as a Method for Active
Learning: An Experience in an Electrotechnical Laboratory.
"Journal of Science Education and Technology"
(n. 22);
pp. 729-734.
ISSN 1573-1839.
Abstract
Active learning is one of the most efficient
mechanisms for learning, according to the psychology of
learning. When students act as teachers for other students,
the communication is more fluent and knowledge is
transferred easier than in a traditional classroom. This
teaching method is referred to in the literature as reciprocal peer teaching. In this study, the method is applied to laboratory sessions of a higher education institution course, and the students who act as teachers are referred to as ‘‘laboratory monitors.’’ A particular way to select the monitors and its impact in the final marks is proposed. A total of 181 students participated in the experiment, experiences with laboratory monitors are discussed, and methods for motivating and training laboratory monitors and regular students are proposed. The types of laboratory sessions that can be led by classmates are discussed. This work is related to the changes in teaching methods in the Spanish higher education system, prompted by the Bologna Process for the construction of the European Higher Education Area