What is peer-mediated instruction?

Peer-mediated instruction is an instructional strategy that utilizes peers as facilitators to enhance learning and social interactions among students. This approach harnesses the natural social dynamics of the classroom, allowing students to learn from each other in a supportive environment. Peers often relate better to one another and can provide meaningful feedback, support, and encouragement, making the learning experience more engaging and effective.

By participating in this type of instruction, students not only gain academic knowledge but also develop important social skills, such as communication, cooperation, and conflict resolution. When students work with their peers, they often find more motivation and a greater sense of responsibility for their learning, which can lead to deeper understanding and retention of material.

In contrast, other approaches like direct teacher instruction focus primarily on the teacher's role in conveying information without the same level of peer interaction. Professional tutoring typically involves trained individuals guiding students one-on-one, which does not utilize the social learning aspect inherent in peer-mediated strategies. Lastly, techniques aimed at evaluating student performance focus on assessment rather than the collaborative learning that peer-mediated instruction promotes.