Leveraging Integrated Peer-Assisted Learning Clusters as a Support for Online Learning

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a quick transition to online learning widely. This study examined the contributions of the peer-to-peer learning interactions within integrated peer-assisted learning clusters to learning among students in universities in Harbin, China, and Akure, Nigeria respectively. The frequency of peer-to-peer interactions in peer-assisted learning clusters in both locations were studied in 2019, and followed by a study to assess the changing characteristics and nature of the learning interactions during the transition to online learning in 2020. Data was curated using Excel, Origin-Pro, and Wordcloud generator. Approximately 60% of the participants used social media for peer-to-peer learning interactions daily within their peer-assisted learning cluster before the transition. The frequency of usage of all the communication technology-mediated means of peer-assisted learning interactions considered during online learning except emails. The increase in the frequency of learning interaction among students in universities in Harbin ranges from 32.1% to 94.4%. Students in Nigeria could not make this quick transition because of other factors highlighted. The learning interactions within their online cluster contribute positively to the online learning of 83.6% of the participants. Peer-to-peer learning interactions was successfully leveraged in the transition to the online learning occasioned by the pandemic.