Boosting Student Performance Through Peer Tutoring

From Aristotle to Aaron at the tutoring center, peer teaching is not a new concept. It is, however, a very useful and effective method of teaching and learning.

Not to be confused with peer instruction, peer teaching is a method in which one student, an expert on the material, instructs another student, a novice in the material. This is not to replace a teacher’s instruction - it’s one more tool in the teacher’s toolbox! This approach works well with pair-share, group activity, study-buddies, or after school tutoring. Recalling more content, scoring higher on tests and assignments, all can be accomplished through peer teaching.

The benefits don’t end there. Peer teaching also helps students:

• Increase their grades
• Develop critical thinking skills
• Raise their confidence and interpersonal skills
• Reinforce their conceptual understanding

How can you teach peer-teaching?

Peer teachers need some scaffolding to learn their craft! Here’s how to teach your students to teach each other. Keep in mind that most students are accustomed to mostly receiving information in class. With peer-teaching, they will be asked to take what they’ve understood in class, digest and explain it to a classmate. Here are some tips:

1. Explain the different types of tutoring:
   • Directive tutoring, where the tutor fills the tutee’s knowledge gaps, explaining and exemplifying how to reach a specific solution.
   • Non-directive tutoring, where the tutor asks open-ended questions, guiding the tutee to form his or her own conclusions about a given topic.
2. Vary the pairing levels: Pair expert with novice and expert with expert. Pairing same-ability students adds variety to your peer teaching routine and reinforces the idea that ALL students are still learners.
3. Teach your tutors how to provide feedback: When to use positive or corrective feedback and how.

Whereas optimal for pair-sharing and group activities, studying and reviewing material, and class engagement and participation, peer tutoring utilizes a multitude of forms to be used in a multitude of ways. Pick and choose when and where you feel it might work best for your students.

Keep in mind, you’ll need to consider the makeup of your class and the maturity level of your students before starting a peer tutoring program. This strategy may need some trial and error, but it’s worth it to keep trying until you find a way that best suits your style and your students.

Forward it to a friend or colleague.

Collaboration through their Bios!

Finding the right tutor can be tricky, but not when your students use Aimee Bio.

Their bios allow them to connect with other students and give them the opportunity to share and see each other’s work, projects, and achievements. It helps them learn about each other.

By communicating through their bios, peer tutoring can be made highly effective and easy to acquire.

Have some time to spare? Here’s a nice short video that will show your students the dos and don’ts of peer tutoring.