What Is Peer Teaching?

What Is Peer Teaching?

Peer teaching is a structured approach where students, by design, teach other students. It's built on the principle that to teach something is to learn it on a deeper level, an idea often summarized as “to teach is to learn twice.” In this model, the roles of teacher and learner are fixed for the duration of the activity. This process helps the student-teacher solidify their own understanding while providing the student-learner with valuable support from a peer.

Peer Teaching Strategies and Activities

Peer teaching can be put into practice through a variety of strategies and activities designed for different classroom situations. These methods range from quick, informal interactions to more involved, planned-out group work.

The core of these strategies is to have students explain concepts to each other, whether in pairs, small groups, or through technology. Some approaches focus on setting classroom expectations for peer support, while others involve specific structures for sharing information.

Here are some peer teaching strategies and activities:

• Think, Pair, Share: Students consider a question individually, discuss it with a partner, and then share their thoughts with the class.
• Three Before Me: A classroom rule where students must ask three classmates for help before asking the teacher.
• Jigsaw Groups: Each student in a group learns a different part of a topic and is responsible for teaching it to the other group members.
• AI Chatbots: Students teach a concept to a generative AI tool that acts as a student, asking questions to check for understanding.
• Video Lectures: Students record short instructional videos to explain a topic to their classmates.
• Teaching Inanimate Objects: A student explains a concept or process out loud to an object to help organize their thoughts and find gaps in their knowledge.

Peer Teaching Benefits

Peer teaching offers a range of outcomes for students, both for the student-teacher and the student-learner. While it can lead to different academic results and skill development, it also presents potential challenges that require careful management. Understanding both sides can help you decide if this approach is right for your classroom.

This approach can foster a more collaborative environment, encouraging active participation and personalized learning experiences. However, its success often depends on having a clear structure, as issues like uneven participation or student conflicts can arise without proper planning and support.

Here are some of the outcomes associated with peer teaching:

• Active engagement and participation: Students take part in interactive activities like group discussions and collaborative projects.
• Deeper subject matter expertise: The act of teaching reinforces the student-teacher's own understanding of the material through practice and explanation.
• Increased collaboration and social learning: The model is structured around peer-to-peer interactions, which involves teamwork and communication.
• Communication and leadership skills: Student-teachers practice organizing their thoughts and communicating ideas, with some opportunities to lead discussions or activities.
• Improved confidence and self-efficacy: Positive experiences in a peer teaching role can affect a student's perception of their own learning capabilities.
• A different learning environment: The structure can create a sense of community where students support each other's learning journey.
• Personalized instruction: Peer teaching can accommodate individual learning needs and preferences more readily than whole-class instruction.
• Development of critical thinking skills: Students develop these skills by explaining concepts and answering questions from their peers.
• Promotion of autonomy and responsibility: Participants take on more ownership of the teaching and learning process.
• Knowledge retention: Studies show that peer teaching can measurably affect how well students retain information.

Peer Teaching Examples

Peer teaching can be adapted for various subjects, from science and math to language learning. It is used in different educational settings, including both in-person and online classrooms, to structure student interactions.

Implementing these strategies can influence student outcomes. Research indicates that the act of teaching can improve a student's retention of material, but it may also increase anxiety for some students due to the responsibility of the role.

Here are some examples of peer teaching in practice:

• Jigsaw Groups: Each student learns a different piece of a lesson and then teaches it to their group members, who combine their knowledge
• Video Lectures: Students record and share short tutorial videos to explain a concept or how to solve a problem
• AI Chatbots: A student teaches a topic to a generative AI tool, which simulates being a curious learner by asking questions
• Three Before Me: A classroom rule requiring students to ask three peers for help before approaching the teacher
• Think, Pair, Share: Students first consider a question on their own, then discuss their ideas with a partner before sharing with the larger group

Peer Teaching Best Practices

Implementing certain practices can help structure peer teaching activities in the classroom. These guidelines are intended to create a framework that aligns the activity with your instructional goals and student needs.

Putting these practices into action involves defining clear learning objectives and selecting activities that fit your lesson. It also includes guiding student interactions, providing feedback, and preparing for potential challenges like uneven participation.

Here are some peer teaching best practices:

• Establish clear objectives: Defining the learning goals gives direction to the activity and helps students understand its purpose.
• Create a supportive learning environment: Fostering an environment of trust and respect encourages students to communicate openly and learn from one another without fear of criticism.
• Select appropriate peer teaching techniques: Choosing a strategy that fits the learning goals, student needs, and the subject matter
• Provide timely feedback and evaluation: Offering feedback helps students reflect on their performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Anticipate challenges and provide solutions: Identifying potential issues like student conflicts or uneven participation and having strategies ready to address them

Teach with TeachShare

Peer teaching is a powerful strategy that reinforces knowledge for the student-teacher while providing targeted support for the learner, fostering a collaborative environment where students take ownership of their learning. Start creating resources with TeachShare now to easily design effective peer teaching activities for your classroom.