What are the Benefits of Peer Tutoring and Collaborative Pairs?

Bill Blynt
Sep 27, 2010

The research on peer tutoring indicates that, as an intervention, it is effective in improving both tutees' and tutors' academic and social development. Much research has been dedicated to this topic. In general, the research shows peer tutoring is helpful to students in reading, spelling, math, and writing. It can be used at all grade-levels including special education classrooms and has been shown to be an effective strategy for all ethnic groups. Peer tutoring works for all students, including those who have problems paying attention, problems learning, and problems with emotions and behavior. Although results between research projects differ regarding the degree of impact on student learning, the wide majority show it to be not only a positive experience but also increases the achievement levels for both participants.

According to John Hattie in his book, Visible Learn ing, the "overall effect of the use of peers as co-teachers in class is, overall, quite powerful." He further argues that students must take control over their own learning and learn self-regulation. One way to achieve this aim is to use peer tutoring. Participating in a peer tutoring relationship teaches students how to become responsible for their own learning. He further states that "when students become teachers of others, they learn as much as those they are teaching." Establishing peer tutoring (Collaborative Pairs) provides a structure that encourages self-monitoring and active engagement with the content.

Peer tutoring is a way to give all students one-on-one help. It is an opportunity for them to practice and extend their thinking on a particular subject. Peer tutoring was found to be most effective when used as a supplement to, rather than a substitute for, the teacher roles (Hartley, S.S, 1977). G.W Phillips (1983) found that peer tutor methods wer e most effective with students in the acquisition rather tha! n profic iency phase of learning. Peer tutoring should not replace good teaching but be used as a supplement to enhance the number of opportunities students have to interact with the content.

Structured peer tutoring provides opportunities for students to talk about what they are learning, to practice what they are learning, to read out loud, and to write. These activities engage the learner and provide more opportunities for them to ask questions when they are confused, someone who can tell them whether their answers are on the right track and someone to encourage them to continue to explore the content and finish the assignment.

Research abounds on the subject of peer tutoring. New models used in schools are not your traditional remedial models. Peer tutoring (Collaborative Pairs) has the most dramatic impact when it is integrated into regular classroom instruction on a consistent and pervasive basis. The model used must move from the old remedial model to a ne w model where teachers shift their role and become more facilitators and managers of the learning process.