Presents a study that measured the impact of a peer-assisted learning (PAL) program on student academic performance, and evaluated student and faculty feedback regarding their experiences with the program. Reports that PAL participants had a significantly higher course success rate than non-participants, and a significantly lower withdrawal rate…

Librarians at the University of Florida partnered with the Anthropology department to develop a peer-to-peer program to provide outreach to undergraduates taking anthropology courses. Discusses the development and implementation of the peer instruction program and presents results of the surveys that evaluated the program. (Author/AEF)

Peer coaching empowers teachers as change agents when integrating innovative practices. This paper describes a model for peer coaching that encourages collegial interaction. Strategies for application include the following: selecting coaching teams, observing, describing implementation procedures, designing an observational instrument, monitoring…

A study investigated the perceptions of general education high school students who participated in a structured peer buddy service learning program designed to increase their social interactions with students with severe disabilities. Participants reported having positive attitudes toward their peers with severe disabilities and experienced…

Effects of peer versus teacher delivered individualized instruction when teaching basic sight words with a constant time delay procedure to four secondary students with moderate/severe disabilities are compared. Results show that, while both modes of delivery are effective, teacher instruction was slightly more efficient than peer tutor…

Describes a specific structured procedure for peer assisted learning in writing, Paired Writing, and its effects on the quality of writing and attitudes toward writing in primary school children. Reports on three action research projects. Finds the Paired Writing method proved practical and robust, adaptable to different classroom contexts, and…

Direct instruction was effective in teaching second grade students to identify and report peers' day-to-day prosocial behaviors. Interdependent reinforcement and publicly posted progress feedback procedures were effective in increasing and maintaining these behaviors. Discussion focuses on developing and implementing proactive programs to prevent…

Developments in forms of peer learning 1981-2006 are reviewed, focusing mainly on peer tutoring, cooperative learning, and peer assessment. Types and definitions of peer learning are explored, together with questions of implementation integrity and consequent effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. Benefits to helpers are now emphasised at least as…

Academic and student affairs leaders long have acknowledged that much of students' learning takes place in cocurricular and extracurricular settings dominated by their peers. That fact has quietly grown in importance in recent years as educators, student affairs leaders, and student health officials increasingly have recognized that peers can play…

Research shows that educational outcomes are no different for pupils in single-grade and multigrade classes. However, little is known about the instructional practices of multigrade teachers. What is known suggests that multigrade teachers tend to employ instructional practices that are not likely to facilitate effective teaching and learning. The…

When Joanne Rooney, a principal, asked 17 tenured teachers who were due for their formal supervisory visits at Pleasant Hill School in Palatine, Illinois whether her annual visits and follow-up conferences help them become better teachers," her question was met with muffled laughter. They knew that her rushed, mandatory visits and conferences…

In this article, the author features "Primary ConneXions", an outreach project of Queen's University Belfast that is funded and supported by "Queen's in the Community". The format of "Primary ConneXions" is a primary school version of a real science research conference. Children do "PowerPoint"…

This paper outlines the establishment and running of an after-school Computer Clubhouse, describing aspects of the leadership, mentoring and learning activities undertaken there. Research data has been collected from examination of documents associated with the Clubhouse, interviews with its founders, Director, session leaders and mentors, and…

Three hundred and forty-six secondary students (127 special education and 219 general education) were surveyed about their perceptions of co-teaching. While significant differences were discovered between groups, all students responded favorably to co-teaching: they indicated they were getting better grades and developing better literacy skills,…

This article is about a training project run by Central England People First (CEPF). CEPF has been doing workshops, conferences and other training for over 10 years. It seemed like a good idea to help other people with learning difficulties to learn how to be trainers. This would help them to speak out about their lives and the services they want.…