May 18, 2021
Peer Learning in the Libraries: Piloting the Peer Educator Program
“I think I wanted to be a PRC because it seamlessly combined my interests and experiences as a student with my passion for research and accessibility in the library. By helping my peers with their own projects, I really hope to support an inclusive and helpful research experience.” — Eva, PRC Consultant
updated 9/17/2021
What is a Peer Research Consultant?
Peer Research Consultants (PRCs) are student employees who work through the Odegaard Writing and Research Center team to provide beginning-level library research help online. They contribute to student development through teaching, learning and training, including classroom visits and other student outreach activities.
So, what can a Peer Research Consultant do for you and your students?
Our spectacular Peer Research Consultants can help students:
- Decipher and understand assignment goals
- Focus a research topic
- Search article databases and UW Libraries Search effectively
- Develop research skills such as building search strategies and evaluating information
- Decrease library anxiety
Students can book appointments with PRCs on our Research Help appointments page.
Research and Libraries data tells us that new students are often intimidated or feel unsure about how to start their research and how best to utilize the Libraries resources and services. We also know that peer education and mentorship is a successful strategy to help reduce common barriers that limit access to services and support. Building off of successful peer education models implemented by our peers (UW Academic Success Programs, the Undergraduate Research Program, First Year Programs, the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity, and others), UW Libraries Learning Services department launched the Peer Educator Program, or PEP! PEP is a pilot program to enhance professional growth and development for Library student employees while also helping other students to learn about and use Libraries resources and services.
The first iteration of the program launched spring quarter with Peer Research Consultants (PRCs). PRCs are student employees who work through the Odegaard Writing and Research Center team to provide beginning-level library research help online. They contribute to student development through teaching, learning and training, including classroom visits and other student outreach activities.
PRCs develop their skills and build their resumes by going through in-depth training in inquiry, metacognition, information literacy, and building an inclusive learning environment for their fellow peers. PRCs also assess student needs and offer referrals to subject librarians for specialized consultations or to other campus resources as needed. Research suggests that this model is an effective strategy for student engagement.
“By reconceptualizing library student employment as a learning opportunity, students can feel valued, challenged, and supported, and the library can directly contribute to campus efforts to increase student retention and success.” — Erin Rinto, Rosan Mitola & Kate Otto (2019) Reframing library student employment as a high-impact practice: Implications from case studies, College & Undergraduate Libraries, 26:4, 260-277, DOI: 10.1080/10691316.2019.1692747
As we learn from the implementation of the PRC pilot, we will consider additional ways to improve and grow the Libraries Peer Educator Program. This is the first step.
Thank you for helping to raise awareness of this new service by sharing this information with your community of students and faculty.
Questions? Contact Emilie Vrbancic (vrbancic@uw.edu) or John Holmes (jwholmes@uw.edu).
Thank you for your support!
UW Libraries Learning Services Team
