Shows that the social dimensions of peer tutoring help students acquire a sense of audience. Shows how peer tutors serve as a link between writer and audience. (RL)

(SBH)

Argues that peer tutoring is a teaching technique of undeniable but limited usefulness to writing instructors. (RL)

Reviews research on the effects of peer-tutoring on the tutor and asks at what point peer-tutoring changes from an effective learning technique to the exploitation of the tutors. (MKM)

A student tutoring program in which nonhandicapped secondary students worked with their handicapped peers is described as a successful experiment in reverse mainstreaming. (CL)

Examined whether preschool-age experts (with task experience) would spontaneously assist novices (without task experience) when working in pairs on constructing a house with blocks. Found that experts were more likely to provide nonverbal assistance than verbal assistance, with modeling how to combine blocks being most frequent. The most frequent…

Interviews with first-time mothers indicate the importance of informal, incidental, and experiential learning with peers and mentors such as their mothers. Although not always recognized as such, material knowledge is a crucial learning resource. (Contains 28 references.) (SK)

Presents results of a meta-analysis of studies that compare drug prevention programs led by peers to the same program led by adults. Overall, peer-led programs were found to be somewhat more effective than adult-led programs. It is concluded that the effectiveness of a prevention program is determined by several characteristics of the program.…

Describes the history of, rationale for, and implementation of a program at the University of Michigan to train peer facilitators in an undergraduate community service-learning program. Examples of specific training designs and component activities are provided. (EV)

A survey of 79 older adults found that they used an average of 4.4 prescribed medications. Their attitudes were neutral toward willingness to teach peers about medication safety; the oldest were least receptive to teaching. Most were receptive to peer learning. Number of medications and reported difficulties were correlated with these attitudes.…

Describes a Sonoma County (California) school district's peer coaching program designed to meet the needs of new, probationary, and experienced teachers. The program succeeded because participation was voluntary, the training empowered teachers and improved their coaching skills, and teachers continued to meet as a group and learn from each other.…

Peer coaching promises to reduce teachers' isolation, create a professional and collegial school environment, and promote skill transfer from training to the workplace. To help peer coaching achieve these results, several guidelines are presented. Peer coaching programs need administrative support, adequate training, participant trust, and…

The typical Amish school is a one-room schoolhouse without electricity or running water; the teacher has never attended high school; the students are not separated by age, grade, or ability. Yet Amish pupils consistently score equal to or slightly above the national norms on standardized tests. Their success may be due to emphasis on social…

Three Scandinavian initiatives--The Stop Violence Group, Comrades in Schools, and The Non-Fighting Generation--address social problems through adolescent peer education. There are concerns that such programs may lead to social control; elite groups of "good" youth may be marginalized; and adults may thereby evade responsibility. (SK)

Describes the varieties of "Writing Fellows" (curriculum-based peer tutoring) programs. Provides help for starting such programs. Presents results of a survey of WF programs. Offers observations based on the experiences of the director of a six-year-old Writing Fellows program. (RS)