Leveraging Peer Learning for Integration of International Students in the Classroom

Authors

Brian Barry, Technological University DublinFollow
Waleed Abo-Hamad, Technological University DublinFollow
Diana Carvalho e Ferreira, Technological University DublinFollow
Niamh Gilmartin, Technological University DublinFollow

Document Type

Report

Rights

Available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike 4.0 International Licence

Disciplines

*pedagogy

Publication Details

Practitioner Research Project undertaken in part completion of the DIT's Postgraduate Diploma in Third Level Learning and Teaching (DT906). For more details please see http://www.dit.ie/lttc/

Abstract

The international education sector in Ireland is currently worth approximately €1.58bn per annum, and it is projected to grow to €2.1bn per annum by 2020 (Department of Education and Skills, 2016). The academic challenges faced by international students are linked to language skills, academic background, and cultural aspects (Sadykova, 2014). Peer learning is mutually beneficial for provider and recipient, with benefits including higher academic achievement and greater productivity; increased communication skills and a greater sense of belonging; and the development of support systems (Colvin & Ashman, 2010). Domestic peers help international students to compensate for the lack of culture-specific knowledge and skills (Sadykova, 2014). A roadmap was produced for leveraging of peer learning in the multicultural classroom, starting by raising awareness of the academic challenges faced by international students, then easing students into active learning formats via instructor-defined groups and tasks, that increase gradually in size and complexity.

Recommended Citation

Abo Hamad, W., Barry, B., Carvalho e Ferreira, D., Gilmartin, N. (2017) Leveraging Peer Learning for Integration of International Students in the Classroom. Dublin: Technological University Dublin.