PEER TUTORING

Acquisition and Transfer Effects of Class Wide Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies in Mathematics for Students with Varying Learning Histories

[Name of the Institute]Abstract

The study will examine the effectiveness of peer assistance in improving the learning environment of classrooms through examining the test scores in subject of mathematics. Students classified as, identified learning disable, low achiever and average performer are pre-tested and post-tested on the knowledge acquisition and skills transfer of mathematics. It will be a primary research done through stratified and random sampling. The quantitative analysis of the test scores post-and pre-test of control and treatment groups of a total 120 students. Participants also include 40 teachers. Significance of the difference of test scores and the degree of variation in the results of student sub-groups will be tested using one-way ANOVA and Chi-Square tests. Significant impact of peer assistance on classroom environment is expected.

Abstract1

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Introduction3

Literature Review5

Method6

Expected Results10

Reference11

Introduction

An improved learning outcome in students is the most important goal to be achieved in academics. Several procedures and new system are introduced and adopted to achieve this goal. The research proposed here will examine one of such systems, the peer tutoring system.

Peer Tutoring

In process of learning acquisition of knowledge or skill can be done in various ways and in groups or individually. A peer is one that stands in the same rank. Peer tuition is a little apart from guidance as it is more aligned towards the help and support. As peers tutors are not professional teachers, the aid they provide is solely concerned with the help or self learning. There is no single way of implementation of peer assistance and also the tuitions are likely to be given to lower grade students by the higher grade students. Some methods of peer assistance have a lot of involvement of the peers than other methods. Despite of these differences, volunteer peer-tutors are found to be effective no less than the professional paid teachers.

Initially it was considered that the impact of peer tuitions is only the improvement of weak students. Peer tuitions were complimentary with professional teachings and the best candidates for peer tuitions were supposed to be the best performing students. Later it was revealed that the methods and impact of peer tuitions vary largely and best outcomes are achieved when the tutors and tutees belong to similar level of intelligence and skills. Nowadays, peer-assistance strategy has goals of improvements in skills or acquisition of knowledge of both tutor and tutee.

Goals of Peer Tutoring

When it is found in latest studies that peer tuitions have multiple advantages and the method can be applied in different ways, all leading to stratified achievements, then the strategy developed to implement peer assessment system with targeted goals. These goals are described here.

Raising standards

There is an increasing criticism on the educational system that the standards are lowering frequently and the achievements in science, numeracy and literacy are declining. There is also lack of skills transfer at the schools. In attempt of acquiring deep knowledge, the spread of surface knowledge is ...