Higher education has a problem: When students are isolated due to online learning, they miss out on valuable opportunities to build social skills that will carry them to success as they pursue their personal and professional goals.
Student isolation in online learning modalities deprives them of the social interaction necessary for success in their coursework and ill prepared to enter the workforce. This leads to higher dropout rates and graduates unprepared for the workforce due to a lack of social learning opportunities.
Furthermore, these skills are increasingly valued by employers (Finley, 2021); in a recent American Association of College and Universities report, 93 percent of 496 surveyed employers rated the ability to work effectively in teams -utilizing skills of collaboration, communication, and connection- as important for college graduates. How can schools teach and reinforce these skills as more and more learners move online?
Solution: Tech-Supported Peer Learning
Peer learning has been demonstrated to resolve many of these issues for students by improving university offerings, including student support structures, online instruction and assessment, and virtual meeting spaces. Purpose-built technology solutions that facilitate peer learning online are a critical component to the success of university programs and student success.
Jonathan Olshock is COO & Director of Partnerships at Peerceptiv.
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