One of the biggest challenges schools face when it comes to embedding digital tools in the classroom is ensuring that both students and teachers feel supported. Teachers today are navigating increasing curriculum demands, diverse student needs and ever-evolving technologies. It’s no surprise that many feel overwhelmed. But there’s one simple, low-cost strategy that can make a significant difference: peer tutoring.
Peer tutoring isn’t about placing more responsibility on teachers—it’s about creating a collaborative learning culture where students support each other and lighten the load. This approach unlocks a range of benefits for students while also helping teachers introduce technology in a way that feels manageable and meaningful.
Benefits for Students:
Leadership Capacity
When students take on a digital mentoring role, they develop leadership skills in a meaningful, real-world context. Teaching others requires good communication, patience and empathy—skills that are transferable well beyond the classroom.
Stronger Sense of Belonging
Peer tutoring promotes inclusivity and collaboration. It breaks down barriers between class groups or ability levels and helps foster a school-wide culture where students help each other to succeed.
Enhanced Digital Literacy
By teaching and supporting their peers, student tutors reinforce their own digital skills, deepening their understanding of tools and platforms. Meanwhile, their peers gain from one-to-one or small group support in a more relaxed, relatable setting.
Increased Confidence and Engagement
Students are often more willing to ask questions and explore when working with a peer. This safe space boosts confidence and can lead to more active participation during whole-class lessons.
Benefits for Teachers:
Support with Class Management
With 25+ students in the room, trying something new with technology can be daunting. Having trained peer tutors in the mix allows teachers to feel supported, knowing students are helping one another and no one will be left behind.
Frees Up the Teacher to Focus on Teaching
Instead of spending time troubleshooting login issues or helping students find the right tool, teachers can focus on delivering the lesson’s learning outcomes—confident that students are being supported by their peers.
Promotes a Shared Learning Culture
When students are actively involved in supporting digital learning, it builds a positive classroom environment where everyone is learning together. This shared responsibility helps reduce the pressure on teachers and encourages more experimentation with digital tools.
A Practical Example: How to Implement Peer Tutoring with Scratch Junior
Here’s a step-by-step example of how we implemented peer tutoring in our school, using Scratch Junior as the focus. This model supports student leadership, cross-class collaboration and digital learning—without taking time away from the curriculum.
Step 1: Choose a Confident Tech Lead
Begin by identifying a teacher who is confident using Scratch Junior (or another digital tool). This person will lead the process and guide the students in becoming peer tutors.
Step 2: Train a Whole Class as Peer Tutors
Rather than selecting just a few students, the entire class is trained as peer tutors. This ensures:
- Every student receives digital skills instruction as part of their own learning
- No additional time outside of classroom time is needed.
- Everyone gets an opportunity to lead and support others.
Step 3: Introduce Station Teaching
Once your class is confident using Scratch Junior, move into station teaching. One station is designated for Peer Tutoring, where a small group of students (e.g. 5-6 at a time) leaves the room and visits a younger class (such as 1st or 2nd class).
Step 4: Peer Tutors Support a Younger Class
While the rest of the class continues their station work, peer tutors visit the other classroom/s.
This rotation continues over several sessions until all students have had a chance to be peer tutors.
Step 5: Reflect and Celebrate Growth
Back in class, build in time for reflection. Ask students what went well, what they found challenging, and how they felt helping others. This reflection helps consolidate learning and builds confidence in their digital and leadership skills.
This model works well because:
- It builds coding skills and communication skills simultaneously
- It doesn’t take time away from teaching—it enhances it
- It creates a positive school culture where students learn from one another
But Where Does the Time Come From?
Peer tutoring doesn’t require extra time—it aligns naturally with the curriculum. It supports areas such as Community and Belonging, Media and Digital Wellbeing, and Collaborative Learning. By fitting into existing teaching and learning structures, it enhances what’s already happening in classrooms, rather than adding to teachers’ workload.
Digital learning doesn’t have to be an uphill battle—and teachers should never feel like they have to do it alone. By empowering students to support each other, we create a collaborative ecosystem where both learners and teachers thrive. Peer tutoring is more than just a support strategy—it’s a mindset shift that promotes leadership, resilience and a stronger school community.