Be What You See

We all naturally learn from one another through observation, listening, and interaction. When kids play together, they learn how to share, how to work together, and how their differences become strengths. Kids in the playground become fascinated with the games of other kids, and teach each other their own games in return. Wouldn’t it be amazing if this willingness to share knowledge and experience could spill over into education?

It turns out, it already has. Peer to peer learning amongst the younger generation is becoming a real force for effective education, particularly in the hands-on world of STEM.

What is Peer to Peer Learning?

Peer to peer learning is simply a system whereby everyone involved is both a teacher and a learner. It’s all about encouraging likeminded people to come together and share their knowledge, experience, and skills without any type of obvious hierarchy or authoritarian figure involved.

Kids are great at this because they absolutely love to share what they know. Think about any time your kids have got excited about a film or a new book — you hear about nothing else for weeks! Kids are proud of their skills and knowledge, and more than this, they soak up the knowledge of other enthusiastic kids like a sponge.

Gathering girls together who are excited about coding, programming, robotics, engineering, and science is the first step. Give these girls a set of resources that allows them to create something amazing and record those experiences creates a learning environment like no other.

Peer to peer learning encourages a range of social and career skills including:

· Great listening

· Communication

· Respect for others

· Leadership skills

· Confidence and self-esteem

In a typical classroom setting, as little as 40% of the learners may be paying full attention, whilst only 70% take on board what’s being taught. That number drops even further after the first ten minutes of class. Peer to peer learning is less about “being taught” and more about actively learning through doing. This promotes much higher retention of information, plus a real passion for the subject in question.

The Power of Peer Role Models

STEM education for girls needs to be full of inspiration. Kids are inspired by seeing others they know and respect get a thrill from something. There’s that feeling of “Wow, I wish I could do that too!”. When the person doing that exciting project is a kid of around their own age, it makes it all the easier to approach and ask to join in. Your kids see an adult making a robot, they might ask a couple of questions or sit and watch. Your kid sees another kid making a robot, there’s this realisation that:

· They have permission to do that kind of work/play

· They are capable of creating cool things like that

· Technology is for kids just like them

It’s important to remember that kids love to talk. As well as observing each other and learning through doing, kids will share their stories. One girl’s story about why they came to a workshop to build robots could inspire another girl to get involved on a more regular basis. Role models provide these points of inspiration.

Girls who have been into technology and coding for some time can inspire newcomers by explaining how they got into STEM, what they love about it, and what they hope to achieve. These newcomers, over time, become role models themselves as they gain the confidence to share their own stories with their peers.

How Does Peer to Peer Learning Inspire Girls in Tech?

Even today, girls still have a disadvantage when it comes to getting into STEM careers. Recent studies show that even at university level, women in STEM subjects can feel isolated and lacking in motivation due to the lack of peers that share their passions.

Learning from a young age that other girls and women are highly engaged with technology and coding can be a massive inspiration. Opportunities to do these include events like Girls Into Coding events. Girls come together to learn from each other, take part in 3D design projects, code, and program, learn about robots and so much more. The whole atmosphere at these events is one of excitement and wonder, and for parents and carers, it’s a clear vision of what the future of STEM could be.

Inspirational girls who are doing cool things in tech are the role models for our kids need. Hearing the stories of these girls empowers youngsters in ways that simply can’t come from anyone else. The impact of seeing a peer, someone exactly like you, doing things you only ever dreamt of; it’s truly powerful.

That’s why it’s so important that existing women in tech roles keep talking about their experiences and encouraging young women and girls to get involved. The more visible these women and girls are, the more they talk about their journeys into the fascinating world of STEM, the clearer those paths become for girls just taking their first steps.