Characteristics of Teaching and Learning in Pairs and its Influence on the Performance of Slower Learners

Teaching and learning „in pairs“ can be characterized as a cooperative, form of teaching. Group teaching is also a cooperative form, but teaching and learning in pairs has its specific features for it is based on polarity, on cooperation of two pupils.
Teaching and learning in pairs has many uses in the teaching process. It can be used in the traditional verbal-object instruction as well as in problem instruction and in programmed instruction.
The effectiveness of „in-pairs“ teaching and learning has been verified in 164 teaching periods involving 1^96 pupils of elementary schools, secondary vocational training centres, gymnasiums (L e. senior high schools or grammar schools), as well as undergraduates. Didactic experiments have been carried out in the following subjects: civics, physics, chemistry, geography, history and mathematics.
Results have shown that teaching and learning in pairs is, from the didactic viewpoint, more effective.
The experiment described in this article has proved that teaching and learning in pairs is more effective from the didactic viewpoint especially with those pupils whose results at school are not so good. The truth of this statement has been confirmed by the experiment which was carried out in mathematics at an elementary school and a secondary vocational training centre, and in physics also at an elementary school and at a senior secondary vocational school of electrical engineering.