Peers Coaching Peers

Description

Participants develop constructive coaching and feedback abilities in conjunction with targeted skill practice.

Why we like it

Peer coaching extends engagement while other learners complete a task, while honing the critical 21st century skill of giving and receiving feedback. Utilizing peer coaching also mitigates the limited exposure that virtual facilitators face when hopping between breakout rooms.

Process

1. Facilitator outlines the breakout room task (roles, time limits, etc.) and prepares participants for practice and feedback sessions with short quiz or discussion eliciting best practice methods from participants.
2. Facilitator divides participants into breakout rooms to practice their content specific skill/role play/simulation/pitch. Facilitator monitors break-out rooms, not interfering unless necessary.
3. Participants take turns completing the performance task and giving feedback orally. They are returned to the main room when time expires.
4. Facilitator debriefs participants, eliciting details about the skill practice and the feedback given.

Variations

a) If the task can be done solo, breakout rooms pairs can alternate between practice and feedback. Breakout rooms can be mixed for high repetition practice.
b) Several participants demonstrate the performance task in the main room. Afterwards, within breakout rooms, groups discuss what they’ve seen and prepare oral or digital feedback. This variation emphasizes analysis and feedback over skill practice.
c) In a closing survey, participants rate their practice, improvement, and the feedback they received. Facilitators can use that data for future session planning.

Daisy chain options

a) Feedback training and best practices can be held in advance.
b) Facilitators can allow participants to screen record, enabling them to analyze or reflect on their performance and feedback for future assignments or to track their improvement over time.
c) Using screen recording, facilitators can collaborate with managers to review videos and give feedback to participants. It’s also a great way for managers to see virtual training success.