Peer Teachers

Program Description

The Peer Teacher program helps to bridge the gap between students and instructors. The peer teachers (PTs) are high-performing undergraduates with a desire to help others succeed in the classes that they have previously done well in. The PTs help students to understand the material taught in classes and labs, practice computational thinking and improve programming skills. They are in the best possible position to assist with difficult coursework, having just taken the same classes. The program supports 100, 200 and 300-level CSCE courses. Students consistently rate peer teachers as having a positive impact on their performance.

Many students prefer asking PTs for help instead of instructors and teaching assistants because they feel more closely related, both academically and socially. In addition to answering questions about coursework, PTs also provide guidance in course selection and offer support when students feel overwhelmed.

Outside of the lab, PTs continue to assist their students through various methods. Most PTs hold office hours throughout the week in Peer Teacher Central (Peterson 127). Peer Teacher Central is manned most hours of the school day and even on nights and weekends. For some classes, PTs hold additional review sessions to offer extra coverage of the course material.

Starting in spring 2014, office hours were consolidated to one location and arranged so that at least one peer teacher is always present, increasing students awareness of where and when help is available. The response has been positive; students are better able to find help and tend to utilize whatever peer teachers are available, rather than the handful they are familiar with from lab.

Many classes also use the Piazza message board system where PTs can answer questions online. Based on the data from previous semesters, the average response time was only 25 minutes.

The program also benefits PTs by reinforcing a deeper understanding of the material through teaching, communication skills, time management and valuable work experience. In total, these skills make PTs highly sought-after assets in industry after they graduate.

Program Supervisor

Peer Teacher Central |  Location: Peterson 127