Why use Peer Instruction? The advantages of these interactive
lectures over the traditional format are many and varied: - The
questions provide the lecturer with instant feedback about how
well students have understood the material, allowing him or her
to adjust the pace and content of their teaching accordingly. -
The questions provide valuable feedback to the student on how
well they have actually understood the material and how they are
progressing relative to the rest of the class. - The "convince-
your-neighbour' sessions allow for valuable peer interaction
between students. This promotes active engagement: students have
to do more than passively assimilate material, they must think
about it and try to explain it to someone else. - The
convergence on the correct answer following these student-
student discussions suggests that brief one to one discussion is
an invaluable learning tool. Students who have understood the
topic are able to explain it effectively to students who have
not, perhaps at times more