Program Planning for Peer Tutoring

Topping on his study reported that in previous study by Annis compared three randomly groups of students. The first group which merely read the material to be studied, the next group which read the material which the expectation of having to teach it to a peer, and the third group read the material in the expectation of teaching it to a peer and then actually carried out. On a 48 item test of both specific and general competence, the „read only‟ group gained less than the „read to teach‟ group which in turn gained less than the „read and teach‟ group. The tutors gained more than the tutees. 20 b. Pedagogical benefits for the students-tutees. Peer tutoring also has advantages for the tutees in pedagogic include more active, interactive, participative learning, immediate feedback, lowered anxiety, and greater student ownership of the learning process. Peer Tutoring helps less advance students in their learning as Stephen J. Gaies stated that students who master material more slowly can receive additional exposure to material through small-group work with a tutor. 21 c. Motivational and attitudinal benefits for tutee Motivational and attitudinal gains can include great commitment, self-esteem, self-confidence and empathy with others. Bell established elaborate hierarchies whereby in each class there were pairings of tutors and pupils, typically 12 more able pupils paired with 12 less able, with an assistant teacher who instructed and supervised tutors. In turn, the assistants were overseen by teacher who has overall responsibility for pupil progress and classroom discipline. However, the assistants and teachers themselves were aged between 7 and 14 years of age. The hierarchies were completed by sub ushers and ushers, who were ultimately responsible to 20 Topping. op. cit., pp. 32 –340. 21 Gaies, op. cit., p. 2. schoolmasters. Bell was a truly remarkable educator who recognized the many advantages of peer tutoring, not only in terms of educational progress but in the improved self-esteem of all involved and the accruing improved discipline in classroom and school as a whole. For tutor Bell realized that far from being held back in his studies, „the tutor far more efficiently learns his lesson than if he had not to teach it to another. By teaching he is well taught‟. 22 d. Social psychology, economic and political benefits of peer tutoring. Students become aware of their social dynamic. Topping reported that in peer tutoring, social isolation might be reduced, the functionality of the subject modeled, and aspirations raised, while combating any excess of individualistic competition between students. Study by Moust and Schmidt found that students felt more interested in their lives and personalities, and were less authoritarian, yet more focused on assessment. Economic advantages of peer tutoring might include the possibility of teaching more students more effectively, freeing staff time for other purposes. Politically peer tutoring gives the management of learning to the learners in a democratic way, seeks to empower students rather than de-skill them by dependency on imitation of a master culture, and might reduce student dissatisfaction and unrest. 23 22 Keith Topping. Effective Peer Tutoring in Further and Higher Education: The Typology and Review of The Literature. Peer Tutor in higher Education 32,1996, pp. 32 –340. 23 Ibid.