Question:

Telling Students how to teach fellow students?

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I'm helping to write a course for teaching first year students (around 18 years old) how to program. One of the things we are keen to do is try and get the students to support each other as we find that they almost always learn better from a peer they can relate to than a lecturer at the front.

A lot of our students are a bit shy and awkward as it is their first time away from home and they don't know many people (out of a course of around 100)

While they do really want to help others, they don't want to put themselves forward or approach someone saying "Are you stuck?" in case they come across as showing off or arrogant.

What do you think we can do to help students help other students?

And what teaching tips should we give students to help them teach other students?

Thanks very much

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2 ANSWERS


  1. Perhaps if, early on in the course, you take aside the obviously bolder students and tell them of your plan and then you publicly (but don't go overboard) praise them for helping out other students, the others would join in.  After the initial person comes to the aid of a peer, maybe you could say to the class, "That's exactly what we're looking for here.  You guys really know a lot and can definitely help each other out.  If you see someone stuck, don't be afraid to ask if they need help.  Good job, (name)!"

    The more comfortable and safer they feel in the class, they more they will be willing to help out.


  2. have   u used the 3 color cups?

    red green and blue plastic cups per pair of students

    if they are stuck they  turn over a red cup and stack it ontop.

    if they are working turn over a blue on top

    if they are finished stack the green cup on top.

    this can be a norm with you or the kids.

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