Peer Teaching: A New Step to Improve Education, Learning and Student Satisfaction

Background: In peer teaching, students act as both teachers and learners. Peer teaching can be a useful way to learn courses in interdisciplinary fields of study.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the viewpoint of health information technology students about learning through peer teaching.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in ۲۰۱۷ at Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Undergraduate students in the health information technology department using the peer teaching method participated. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire consisting of ۴۲ questions assesses students' attitudes toward peer teaching. It consisted of two categories: "learning improvement" and "students' satisfaction with the peer teaching." Data were analyzed using SPSS software.Results: A total of ۵۲ students participated in the study. Regarding learning improvement, the mean score of development of individual skills, improvement of students' learning, and improvement of peer performance were ۳.۴۳ ±۱.۰۵, ۳.۳۴ ±۱.۰۸, and ۳.۳۷ ±۱.۰۳, respectively. In terms of student satisfaction the mean score of interaction between learner and teacher, knowledge transferred to the student, and the class conditions were ۳.۵۲ ±۱.۱۰, ۳.۳۱ ±۱.۰۹, and ۳.۲۱ ±۱.۱۵, respectively. Students who attended more in peer classes were more satisfied and their learning improved (P<۰.۰۵). There was no significant relationship between age, gender, and the number of passed semesters with students' satisfaction and learning (P>۰.۰۵).Conclusion: From the students' point of view, peer teaching can improve their learning. Also, the students were satisfied with the training provided by their peers. Peer teaching can be a complement to the teacher-centered method by providing a positive experience.

Keywords:

Peer Teaching , Peer learning , evaluation , Satisfaction