Peer social connections have a major effect on student mental health and wellbeing. In our study, students indicated that feeling connected to one’s peers is important because it increases confidence, happiness, helps students face challenges, supports learning, and motivates them to do well academically.
When students have friends in a class, they feel more connected with the bigger group of classmates. One student described the sense of care his classmates and friends gave him “if you have the support network, you can really weather whatever storm may come your way.” (Science student). Another student talked about the academic benefits of having this support network, saying “the more connection you have, the stronger you feel that you’re part of the group and that’s a reassurance … you feel like you have something to fall back on when your grades aren’t that high and when … you don’t know something that you’re supposed to know.” (Science student).
Interactive teaching practices (i.e. group work and in-class discussions), smaller settings (e.g. seminars, labs, discussion groups and tutorials), and repeated contact with the same group of students on a regular basis (i.e. standard timetables, activities with peers the same major) all help foster peer relationships.
On the other hand, a few participants felt that students would develop friendships regardless of whether the instructor did anything to facilitate the process. “I don’t think they really should be worried about that. It’s not their job to make friends for us” (Student 29, line 7-125).
Here are some ways you can foster Peer-to-Peer relationships in your classroom:
- Group work and in-class discussions (especially when it is not for marks)
- Maintaining the same groups throughout the term
- Incorporating a lab, discussion group or tutorial
- Incorporating small-group discussions
- Icebreakers
- Field trips
- Offering bonus marks for students to attend course-related community events
- Fostering a safe classroom environment
Have you tried any of above in your classroom? When you were a student yourself, did you appreciate it when your instructor tried to foster friendship among students? Tell us your thoughts!