Ebooks - Peer to Peer (P2P) Collaboration and Learning

What is peer-to-peer collaboration?

In simple terms, Peer-to-Peer (P2P) “…is an approach to content distribution in which digital files and communication are transferred between ‘peer’ computers over the Internet. In a client/server structure, servers store content and, when requested, send that content to client machines—a one-to-many distribution model. With P2P, the client machines are peers and communicate with one another.” (Educause, 2009, p.1). For example, when academic papers are uploaded as a ‘working paper’ to Academia.edu the ‘working paper’ allows others to comment on (drafts and feedback).

What is peer-assisted learning?

Peer-assisted learning (PAL) has been defined as “the development of knowledge and skill through active help and support among status equals or matched companions” (Topping, 1996). The process of PAL can also be described as a situation in which “people from similar social groupings who are not professional teachers help each other to learn and learn themselves by teaching” (Topping, 1996, p. 322).

What is peer learning?

Peer learning essentially refers to students learning with and from each other as fellow learners without any implied authority to any individual, based on the tenet that “Students learn a great deal by explaining their ideas to others and by participating in activities in which they can learn from their peers” (Boud, 2001, n.p.).