How peer tutoring works
The Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) system brings together two groups of students. Tutors have already completed the subject they support, achieving an appropriate grade (typically a good or excellent mark). Tutees are students seeking extra academic assistance in that subject.
Much of the work takes place at a dedicated Tutoring Centre, where tutors and tutees meet to a defined schedule. Tutors provide a specified number of hours to help students reach the knowledge and skills needed to complete the subject successfully.
Tutors generally receive compensation. Possible models include paid student work, academic credits, reduced tuition, opportunities to participate in research, other benefits, or professional development. Tutoring can be individual or group-based depending on staffing capacity, and can also take place online via web conferencing.
Why establish a tutoring centre?
The model is focused on particular course requirements and quality-assured through tutor selection. It can improve the use of teaching resources without directly increasing academic staff workloads, while offering a potentially cost-efficient approach to supplementary teaching.
It also supports community building by helping students connect. Tutors develop teaching and communication skills that may benefit their future careers.
Operating requirements
Physical space: A designated classroom or study room with computers, movable tables and chairs for group work. The original operating model anticipates weekday sessions between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
IT infrastructure: A platform for tutor and tutee registration and recording sessions. Web conferences require broadband internet and two or three desktop computers.
People: An internal or external programme coordinator recruits and supports tutors, liaises with participants, runs the service, resolves problems, manages feedback, develops tutors’ teaching skills, and produces regular reports and return-on-investment assessments.
Financial resources: These depend on the chosen compensation scheme.
Possible compensation models
Students pay the hourly tutoring rate themselves.
The institution provides a certain number of sessions and pays tutors, for example through student employment arrangements.
The institution provides sessions while tutors receive non-financial benefits.
What we offer
Depending on the institution’s needs, we can design, launch and operate all or part of a tutoring system, or train an appointed internal tutor coordinator.
Support for faculty
Faculty members can also be supported through consultations and workshops on educational self-awareness and student engagement.
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