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Students working together in classroom, teaching and learning from each other using peer-based learning strategies

Why Letting Students Teach Each Other Works So Effectively

Peer teaching builds skills, boosts learning, and supports NEP 2020 goals

By SELINclub | 30 Jul 2025, 01:27 AM

Have you noticed how students often explain things to each other during breaks or group work? What if we made this a regular part of our teaching?

Letting students teach each other helps them learn better. It encourages teamwork, builds confidence, and makes lessons more interesting.

In India, the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) supports learning by doing and working together. Peer teaching helps students build skills like communication and critical thinking that they will need in the future.

Many schools around the world also find that peer teaching helps students understand lessons better and feel more involved.

Why Peer Teaching Matters Today

The old way of teaching, where the teacher talks and students listen, is not enough now. Students learn best when they are active and help each other.

Here are some reasons why peer teaching is important:

It fits well with NEP 2020, which supports hands-on learning and teamwork.
Many students have learning gaps after COVID-19. Peer teaching helps fill these gaps.
Students feel more comfortable asking questions to friends than to teachers.
It helps shy students join in more.
Peer teaching builds leadership and cooperation skills.

Here is a simple table to show how peer teaching matches NEP 2020 goals:

NEP 2020 Goal	How Peer Teaching Helps
Experiential learning	Students learn by doing and explaining
Inclusive classrooms	Peers support students with different needs
Multilingual learning	Students explain in languages they know
21st-century skills	Builds teamwork, communication, empathy

How Peer Teaching Works in Class

There are many ways to let students teach each other. You don’t have to do everything at once. Here are some easy ideas:

Peer tutoring: One student helps another understand a topic.
Think–pair–share: Students think alone, discuss in pairs, then share with the class.
Jigsaw method: Each student learns part of a topic and teaches the rest of the group.
Reading buddies: Older students help younger students read.
Peer feedback: Students review each other’s work and give advice.
Group presentations: Each student presents a part of the topic.

These methods can work in any school, whether in cities or villages.

Here is a table with examples for different subjects:

Subject	Method	Example
Math	Think–pair–share	Students solve and explain problems
Science	Jigsaw	Students teach parts of the body system
English	Peer feedback	Students help improve each other’s essays
History	Group presentation	Students teach about historical events
Language	Reading buddies	Older students read with younger ones

Benefits of Peer Teaching

Peer teaching helps students in many ways, both in learning and in their social skills.

Academic benefits:

Students remember better when they teach others.
They get help faster than waiting for the teacher.
Speaking and listening improve.
Quiet students join in more.

Social and emotional benefits:

Teaching others builds confidence.
Students learn to be patient and kind.
Friendships grow stronger.
Learning feels more fun and less scary.

Here is a simple comparison:

Academic Benefits	Social Benefits
Better understanding	More confidence
Faster problem solving	More kindness
More participation	Stronger friendships
Clear communication	Less fear of mistakes

How to Start Peer Teaching in Your Classroom

You don’t need to change everything. Try these simple steps:

Before class:

Choose topics students know a little.
Give roles like leader or note-taker.
Make clear instructions.

During class:

Watch groups and help when needed.
Use timers to keep things on track.
Make sure everyone joins.

After class:

Talk about what went well.
Praise good teamwork.
Keep track of how students improve.

Tools you can use:

Paper, worksheets, and charts.
Simple online tools like Google Docs or Padlet.
Checklists for students to track their work.

Small changes like this help a lot.

Real Examples of Peer Teaching

Peer teaching works in many schools.

Examples from India:

In Delhi, older students helped younger ones with reading and math. After two months, students improved a lot.
In Himachal Pradesh, story reading groups led by older kids helped younger students read better.

Global examples:

In Finland, students give feedback to each other in writing.
In Singapore, student leaders run science experiments.
In the USA, peer study groups help students prepare for exams.

Simple Steps to Start Peer Teaching and Their Benefits

Step	What to Do	Why It Helps
1. Choose the right topic	Pick a topic students partly know	Makes students confident to explain
2. Explain roles clearly	Assign roles like “explainer” or “listener”	Keeps students focused and organized
3. Give clear instructions	Use simple, step-by-step guidance	Avoids confusion and frustration
4. Monitor actively	Walk around, listen, and support	Fixes mistakes early and encourages all
5. Reflect together	Ask what worked and what didn’t	Helps improve future peer teaching sessions

Challenges and How to Solve Them

Peer teaching is not perfect. Some problems may come up:

Students may give wrong information.
Some may talk too much while others stay quiet.
Groups may lose focus.
Time can be tight.

Here is how to fix these:

Change roles often so everyone gets a turn.
Set clear rules and use checklists.
Keep sessions short.
Teachers should watch and help when needed.

Simple planning makes peer teaching easier and better.

Problem	How to Fix
Wrong info shared	Teacher checks facts
Unequal talking	Rotate roles, encourage all
Group loses focus	Set time limits, clear goals
Confused students	Give simple instructions

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is peer teaching?
Peer teaching means students help each other learn by explaining and discussing topics.

2. How does peer teaching help learning?
It makes students active. They understand better and learn faster.

3. Is peer teaching part of NEP 2020?
Yes. NEP 2020 encourages learning by doing and working together.

4. How do I check if peer teaching works?
Watch students, use simple checklists, and ask what they learned.

5. Can peer teaching work without technology?
Yes. It works well with paper and group talks.

6. How often should I use peer teaching?
Start with once a week. Add more as students get used to it.

7. What if students are rude during peer teaching?
Set clear rules about respect. Teach students how to give kind feedback.

Conclusion

Letting students teach each other is a simple way to improve learning. It helps students understand better, build confidence, and work together.

You don’t have to do it perfectly at first. Start small and see the difference it makes.

For more ideas, support, and resources on peer teaching and other ways to improve classrooms, visit SELIN. It’s a great place for educators to learn and share.