There are many learning models that students and their teachers employ to ensure that students master academic content. One of these is where students are paired up and become study partners which is also known as peer tutoring strategies. Models are flexible to accommodate the learning needs of students.
Peer tutoring has been around for many years. However, it is currently gaining more popularity in many schools across the world. Initially, it was focused on reading skills but now it has expanded to include study areas such as science, spelling, writing and social studies. The principle behind the effectiveness of this model is that tutors have to grasp the content before they can teach. The reversal of roles ensures that both student partners have the chance to tutor.
It is easy to confuse peer tutoring with other learning models. To be clear, it is not the normal instructional class where adults teach students. It is also not the cooperative model where students are organized into groups and hold discussions. This is a class where the student is the teacher of one or a few more students. It is a unique model encompassing several others which may differ in the way students are paired, the instructional content and comprehensiveness.
The model where the entire class is divided into smaller groups of two to five students is known as Class Wide Peer Tutoring. From each group, some students assume the role of tutor, others tutees and for others both roles at least at different times. Pairing can be achieved using different criteria. Older students may be paired with younger students a system known as cross age pairing. The older students may not have anything to learn from the younger students academically but may have inspiration from social responsibility.
Same age pairing involves pairing of students who are of the same age. In this case, they are able to teach one another with one giving and the other receiving at any one time. Similar or dissimilar abilities may be matched. Different abilities ensure those with stronger skills are able to give first responses and therefore the weaker students are able to emulate them.
When the student pair is of equal ability, they can take turns in assuming the tutor role. This way both of them learn and become experts in that particular topic of study. The students can be ranked according to their abilities and the list then used to pair them. Students with different personalities, needs and preferences should be paired to increase diversity.
This tutoring strategy involves developing instructional material that favors this type of learning model. The material should first teach the students how to be experts in tutoring and how to be good partners. In addition, the course content should be well prepared to accommodate feedback from tutors to tutees. Moreover, there should be capacity for the experts to reverse their roles and also the class teacher to monitor the learning.
This type of tutoring model has been observed to increase class engagement of students and also their opportunities to respond. This is in contrast to other models where all content is delivered by the teacher. It is also advantageous to classrooms with learning challenges such as disabilities and where English is not the first language. The limitations include incompetence by some of the students and lack of accountability.
Peer tutoring has been around for many years. However, it is currently gaining more popularity in many schools across the world. Initially, it was focused on reading skills but now it has expanded to include study areas such as science, spelling, writing and social studies. The principle behind the effectiveness of this model is that tutors have to grasp the content before they can teach. The reversal of roles ensures that both student partners have the chance to tutor.
It is easy to confuse peer tutoring with other learning models. To be clear, it is not the normal instructional class where adults teach students. It is also not the cooperative model where students are organized into groups and hold discussions. This is a class where the student is the teacher of one or a few more students. It is a unique model encompassing several others which may differ in the way students are paired, the instructional content and comprehensiveness.
The model where the entire class is divided into smaller groups of two to five students is known as Class Wide Peer Tutoring. From each group, some students assume the role of tutor, others tutees and for others both roles at least at different times. Pairing can be achieved using different criteria. Older students may be paired with younger students a system known as cross age pairing. The older students may not have anything to learn from the younger students academically but may have inspiration from social responsibility.
Same age pairing involves pairing of students who are of the same age. In this case, they are able to teach one another with one giving and the other receiving at any one time. Similar or dissimilar abilities may be matched. Different abilities ensure those with stronger skills are able to give first responses and therefore the weaker students are able to emulate them.
When the student pair is of equal ability, they can take turns in assuming the tutor role. This way both of them learn and become experts in that particular topic of study. The students can be ranked according to their abilities and the list then used to pair them. Students with different personalities, needs and preferences should be paired to increase diversity.
This tutoring strategy involves developing instructional material that favors this type of learning model. The material should first teach the students how to be experts in tutoring and how to be good partners. In addition, the course content should be well prepared to accommodate feedback from tutors to tutees. Moreover, there should be capacity for the experts to reverse their roles and also the class teacher to monitor the learning.
This type of tutoring model has been observed to increase class engagement of students and also their opportunities to respond. This is in contrast to other models where all content is delivered by the teacher. It is also advantageous to classrooms with learning challenges such as disabilities and where English is not the first language. The limitations include incompetence by some of the students and lack of accountability.
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