Feedback Mechanisms for Peer Leader Development

At Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, the training required of all Peer Leaders includes enrollment in academic mentoring courses. Several fundamental feedback mechanisms are provided for PLTL Leaders to share their ideas and experiences with each other, including interactive Sharing Best Practices discussion posts, peer–to–peer observations, and reflection assignments. These mechanisms allow Peer Leaders of every experience level the opportunity to connect with each other, share facilitation experiences, and provide other Peer Leaders with firsthand insights into successful practices. This paper presents the ways in which these methodologies, among others, are instrumental in creating a closer community of PLTL Leaders and a stronger program for the participating students.