Learning From Teaching: Benefits of Peer Leadership for Peer Leaders in Psychology

Peer leader programs train students in supporting introductory learners in traditional classrooms via instructional sessions of peer-to-peer learning. Assessments of these programs typically focus on benefits to learners rather than leaders, with any gains for leaders shown via self-reported growth measures. This study examined benefits to leaders using additional indexes such as standardized scores of content knowledge and grade point average. Participants were high-achieving psychology students who underwent a pedagogical training program and led instructional sessions for learners weekly. We found evidence that peer leaders experience gains in content knowledge, academic success, and career readiness. Peer leader programs serve as useful additions to academic programs by aiding learning in classrooms and improving leadership abilities and content knowledge in advanced students.