Docemur Docemus: Peer-Assisted Learning Improves the Knowledge Gain of Tutors in the Highest Quartile of Achievement but Not Those in the Lowest Quartile

ObjectivesPeer-assisted learning (PAL) is a form of collaborative learning where members of a peer group act as teachers for each other. A reciprocal PAL program was designed to investigate whether there were differential gains in knowledge acquisition among tutors compared with tutees.DesignBayesian statistical analysis was used to quantitatively assess the effect of tutor status on performance in a knowledge-based examination. Subgroup analysis according to student achievement and question difficulty was performed.Participants and SettingFinal year undergraduate medical students in a 5-year degree program (n = 126).ResultsThe overall probability of getting a correct answer on the knowledge examination was 49.7%. For questions on topics where a student had acted as a tutor this improved to 57.3%. However, students who performed in the upper quartile had a greater percentage gain in the probability of a correct answer in topics that they had taught vs students who performed in the lowest quartile.ConclusionsThere was demonstrable overall knowledge gain associated with acting as a tutor in a PAL program but the greatest gain occurred in students of highest academic ability.