PEER GROUPS IN ENSURING EFFECTIVE LEARNING

PEER GROUPS IN ENSURING EFFECTIVE LEARNING

Nowadays we often hear about peer groups and how peers influence people. Everyone in the world belongs to a peer group. They are not only for kids. The size of your peer group will vary depending on where you are or who you are with. Remember that peer groups are made up of individuals and that you are an individual with the right to have your own opinions, to feel safe and to respect other people's rights too. Peer group can simply be said to be people of the same age and ability that is people who are knitted together by a feeling derived by a common concern as seekers of what was desirable for the group. The peer group is the child own friends, and equal member of the group often have common characteristics or interest. 

The oxford advanced learners dictionary (2001) defined peer group as a group of people of same age or social status. The peer group is the first social group outside the home in which the child attempts to gain acceptance and recognition. Peer group is an important influence throughout one’s life but they are more critical during the developmental years of childhood and adolescence. Adolescents always emulate their mates in whatever form of behavior they exhibit, particularly that which interest them thus, since socialization only refer to changes in behavior, attitudes having their origin in interaction with other persons and those which occur through integration, a child learn more through interaction with peers. 

Socialization being a life-long process cannot be limited to the family members alone. As a child grows older and more matured, it become more necessary for the external bodies to be involved in his or her life. The family is not expected to provide all the education required by the growing child. The school which is an established academic institution in which the behavior of an individual is sharpened to get him or her equipped for occupational socialization. In the school system, the child gets into the social group of “like minds” and interest. As a result of the various attitudes, skills, knowledge is acquired through role-play. Peer group as an agent of socialization is the most important socializing agent for the developing child. Peer group is the pivot of social change and during interaction peers; the child’s life is transformed from the helpless child into a mature adult. 

Necessary to let students realize the reason why they have to be careful in choosing their friends so that their attitudes toward learning would be improved as the peer group they belong can have effect on their learning negatively and positively . The influence could be geared towards positive aspect of students’ academic performance for instance, the students could be influenced socially, psychologically, intellectually etc and all these boost academic performance. e.g. forming reading group, going to the library, anxious to join others in answering questions in the classroom, and making friends with brilliant students especially in the area of mathematics, English language, social studies etc.

Many peer groups can be a positive influence on their friends as well. It is thought that intelligent students help their peers bring up their grades. Likewise, girls with good friends who are considered intelligent tend to do better in school. There definitely seems to be a pattern in the influence of studious kids. With that said, another common theme is similar aspirations. Students that want to go to a four-year college tend to hang out with others with similar aspirations. 

If you have a peer group, you will think more positively about yourself because others value spending time with you. In addition, having friends gives you access to information, advice and guidance in all areas of life.  professor of psychology and PhD., in the American Psychological Association article, "Speaking of Psychology: The good and bad of peer pressure." If you have a group of friends who volunteer their time, have ambitious school- or work-related goals and positive relationships with family, then you are likely to hold the same values and beliefs. In addition, having high-quality friendships sets you up for success in the social world. The more positive your relationships are with your peer group, the more likely you are to have good relationships in the future. 

According to a study published by the Williams Project on the Study of Economics in Higher Education, stronger students do have an impact on their peers and actually help improve the overall academic performance of the peer group. Deatsch (1999) found that when groups are competitive rather than co-operative, a stress situation seemed to occur. On the other hand, competition can also be used to advantage, for instance if a member of a group scores a very high mark in a test, it enables others in the group to aim high in the next test. 

Dubey (2006) also noted that most children from high and middle socio-economic status homes tend to use English as their medium of communication right from home and also have access to textbooks and other necessary materials for learning while most children from poor homes mostly use their native language and lack textbooks and necessary materials. Therefore, the poor children`s English is improved as a result of their relationship with those children from high and middle class who have the textbooks and materials. Also these children may borrow textbooks which they cannot afford to buy from their affluent friends .

A child who is not brilliant enough may do better if he or she is accepted by a group that is inclined to study. It has been observed that a child learns more easily within his peer group. Where he is wrong, he prefers to be corrected by a member of his or her peer group than by the teacher. The peer is important because it shelters and protects its members. It gives them psychological substance by meeting emotional needs of affection, understanding and acceptance. 

Pupils come in contact with peer from different geographical areas, provinces and ethnic groups. The opportunity to mix with young pupil from different social background is likely to readily mix up with another pupil of the same ethnic background. Peer group should therefore be used for effective teaching and learning in schools. In certain areas of problem solving, the group may do better than any single member.

 Also there are some important functions that the peer group plays which greatly influences the academic performance of students. They are as follows:

1. They provide the peer group with a considerable degree of emotional security, which help in the intellectual development of the child.

2. The peer group provides the students with a wide variety of experiences which can boost their academic performance. 

3. They also provide the opportunity for the development of loyalties that goes beyond the immediate family e.g. political and social loyalties, which are important for future adjustment. 

4. They provide a wide number of males that will be helpful in the development of identity diffusion.

5. The peer group facilitates Pre-adolescent transition from the family to peer orientation.

6. They provide opportunities for interpersonal relationship. 

The effectiveness and success of the academic achievement of the school depends on a large measure of the development of success of small group. It supersedes working with youngsters individually. Teachers need to help the work group build its own cohesion and continually resolves the group`s internal problems. The teacher`s job despite the myriad requirements and changing conditions that affect him is to help each learner form his optimum level. In order to do this, the teachers must create an effective learning environment; understanding of group characteristics and social interactions makes the teacher more knowledgeable and behave in productive ways. The peer group influence is a very important consideration in learning, so further efforts must be made both by teachers, parents and students alike to ensure that it is effectively used to improve learning.

Abdhul Hadhy Fathima Yumna,

Department of education and child care, 

Eastern university, Sri - Lanka.