ABSTRACT
Reciprocal peer teaching is an approach in which one student teaches others, who then reciprocate in kind. Through this approach, students intentionally teach each other, thereby increasing learning because one of the best ways to learn something is to teach it. This chapter includes descriptions of the five primary types of reciprocal peer teaching and the ways to organize this approach (e.g., prepare, share, synthesize, reciprocate, and reflect). Research pertaining to reciprocal peer teaching dates back decades and consistently shows positive results. Summaries of the research findings are provided, including the general findings that preparing for the teaching others improves learning, structured tasks for both teachers and learners improves learning, accountability for the learning process improves learning, and that groups typically outperform individuals for knowledge acquisition. This chapter also includes specific strategies for using reciprocal peer teaching in both synchronous and asynchronous online environments. The chapter concludes with detailed descriptions of 11 reciprocal peer teaching activities.
