www.RTAchicago.org

USING A PEER EDUCATION MODEL IN TRAVEL TRAININGKRISTEN SALKAS, M.S.Regional Transportation Authority, Chicago, IL

Presented at the 2015 Annual Conference of the Association of Travel Instruction

Boston, MA

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DON’T REINVENT THE WHEEL

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OUTLINE1. The Peer Education Model2. Peer Education in Other Fields3. Peer Education in Travel Training 4. Future Directions

www.RTAchicago.org

1. THE PEER EDUCATION MODEL

Using a Peer Education Model in Travel Training

Kristen Salkas - RTA Chicago

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WHAT IS TRADITIONAL EDUCATION?• Teacher’s role• Students’ role

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WHAT IS TRADITIONAL EDUCATION?• Traditional education is also known as the

banking model, where students try to bank as much information as possible (Freire, 1968)

• Teachers are transmitters of knowledge and students are receptors of knowledge

• Emphasizes memorization, following the rules, and facts

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WHAT IS PEER EDUCATION?

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WHAT IS PEER EDUCATION?• Peer education involves peers teaching peers

different life skills, including travel skills.• Peers share similar identity traits with one

another, such as age, disability status, race, or gender.

• Peer educators are laypeople who speak from experiential rather than professional knowledge (WestRamus et al., 2012).

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PEER EDUCATION MODEL

PEER LEARNING

• Have shared identity traits • Can relate to one another• Share similar backgrounds

and experiences

LAYPERSON

• Not a professional• Teaches from experiential

knowledge• Receives peer education

training

• Multi-modal teaching for different learning types

• Role play• Not just lecturing or quizzes

ADULT LEARNING THEORY

PARTICIPATORY

• Peer educator and trainee teach each other new things

• Feelings of empowerment• Builds self-efficacy

PEER LEARNING• Peers have shared identity traits

• Language• Race/Culture• Disability• Age

• Can relate to one another• Share similar backgrounds and experiences

PEER EDUCATORS ARE LAYPERSONS• Not professionals!• Teach from experiential knowledge rather than

professional knowledge• Receive peer education training

• Developed by professionals• Guided by professionals throughout the process

ADULT LEARNING THEORY• Multi-modal teaching

• What does this mean?

• Appeals to different learning types• Visual• Auditory• Kinesthetic

• Role play is a common training technique• Not just lecturing or quizzes

PARTICIPATORY• Peer educator and trainee teach each other new

things• Dynamic relationship• The trainee isn’t the only one who learns

• Results in feelings of empowerment• Builds self-efficacy (Bandera, 1977)

WHAT WOULD THIS LOOK LIKE IN TRAVEL TRAINING??

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2. PEER EDUCATION IN OTHER FIELDS

Using a Peer Education Model in Travel Training

Kristen Salkas - RTA Chicago

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THE ORIGINS OF PEER EDUCATION• Borrowed approach from Public Health• Shown to be effective in other fields:

• Balcazar et al., 2005: health promotion for heart disease

• Stacciarni et al., 2013: mental health• Magaña et al., 2014: Latino parents of kids with autism

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MAGAÑA PEER EDUCATION PROGRAM

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MAGAÑA PEER EDUCATION PROGRAM• Latino parents of children with autism

– What’s a peer?

• Content: Understanding Autism, Advocating for Services, and Parenting Strategies

• Peer Trainer Training and Professional Support• Documentation of interactions• Pre- and Post-Test Interviews

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ADVANTAGES OF THE PEER EDUCATION MODEL

• Relatable, personalized content• More culturally competent• More cost-effective• Takes a social model approach• Based on sound theoretical frameworks (Lujan et al.,

2007).

• So why not implement it into Travel Training?

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DISADVANTAGES OF THE PEER EDUCATION MODEL

• Peer Laypeople are NOT professionals• Non-standardized training• Liability, Confidentiality• Interpersonal Difficulties

www.RTAchicago.org

3. PEER EDUCATION IN TRAVEL TRAINING

Using a Peer Education Model in Travel Training

Kristen Salkas - RTA Chicago

WHAT WOULD THIS LOOK LIKE IN TRAVEL TRAINING??

WHO IS ALREADY USING PEER EDUCATION?

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WHO IS ALREADY USING PEER EDUCATION?Transit Ambassador Programs

• The “stars” of Travel Training come back to teach others what they’ve learned

• People with Disabilities and Older Adults themselves

Senior Buddy Programs• Pairing an older adult who already uses transit

with one who needs training• Peer matching

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PEER EDUCATION MODELPEER

LEARNING

• People with Disabilities and Older Adults teach their peers

• Can also match on other identity traits

LAYPERSON

• Not a professional travel trainer• Has experience taking public

transit• Receives training on features,

training techniques, safety, etc.

• Role play scenarios• Real-life situations• Practical application of

transit skills

ADULT LEARNING THEORY

PARTICIPATORY

• Trainers gain skills, knowledge, and self-efficacy!

• Trainers give input to program development

• Goal: empowerment!

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4. FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Using a Peer Education Model in Travel Training

Kristen Salkas - RTA Chicago

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REINVENTING OUR WHEEL

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WHAT’S IN THE TOOLBOX FOR YOUR PEER EDUCATION TRAVEL TRAINING PROGRAM?

DEVELOPING A PROGRAM

Peer Education Program

Develop a curriculum! What professional

skills can guideThis process?

Research!What other models are out there that

have worked?

Find your trainers!Who is going to spearhead this

program?

Participant Feedback1.

2.

3.

4.

Selener, 1997 29

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1. RESEARCHTheoretical:• Peer Education Model (WestRamus et al., 2012)• Adult Learning Theory (WestRamus et al., 2012)• Participatory Action Research (Selener, 1997)

Practical:• What programs are already doing this and how?• How will you have to change their strategies for your own

program?

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2. FIND YOUR TRAINERSTraits of a good peer trainer

• Responsible• Leadership• Experience• Enthusiam• Peer

Partner with community organizations• Where can you find these types of people?

Have an evaluation plan• How can you ensure your trainers are doing a good job?

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3. DEVELOP A CURRICULUMTeaching Skills

• Adult Learning Theory• Privacy/Confidentiality• Problem-solving and emergency Plans

Content/Transit Skills• Can adapt from your own TT program• Make sure content fits the population• Delivered in a manner that the peer trainer can

understand

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4. FEEDBACK• From Trainers• From Participants• From Program Staff

• How do you make changes to a program in progress?• Piloting• Document it!!

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TO SUMMARIZE…• Peer Education is a teaching method where

laypeople teach their peers different skills in a relatable, empowering way.

• Peer education has been used successfully in other fields for decades.

• A few programs have already used this approach in travel training.

• It could be more effective, cost-efficient, and culturally-competent to try this model in our own programs!

www.RTAchicago.org

USING A PEER EDUCATION MODEL IN TRAVEL TRAININGKRISTEN SALKAS, M.S.Regional Transportation Authority, Chicago, IL

Presented at the 2015 Annual Conference of the Association of Travel Instruction

Boston, MA