Conversation Starter: Advancing the Theory of Peer-Assisted Learning

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Educational Psychology

Background:

• Peer-assisted learning (PAL) is a widely adopted instructional approach in medical education.
• Existing definitions of PAL often emphasize structure over process.
• There is a need for deeper reflection and scholarly program evaluation of PAL.

Purpose of the Study:

• To unpack and refine the definition of peer-assisted learning (PAL).
• To prompt deeper reflection on the phenomenon of PAL.
• To foster scholarly program evaluation of PAL.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of four selected abstracts from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Group on Educational Affairs (CGEA) 2018 spring meetings.
• Discussion and conceptual unpacking of the definition of PAL.

Main Results:

• The analysis suggests a need for a more nuanced definition of PAL.
• The proposed definition emphasizes the process of PAL over its structure.
• The study highlights the importance of examining the "doing" of PAL.

Conclusions:

• A process-oriented definition of PAL is called for.
• Examining the process of PAL can illuminate its effects on personal and professional development.
• Scholarly evaluation of PAL should consider the nuances of its implementation and impact.