Peer-Allocated Instant Response (PAIR) is a project in the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

that aims to match students with best-suited peer candidates for online support. It was launched in 2006 by the Open University of the Netherlands, an online university, and was supported by

Fontys University Fontys University of Applied Sciences is a Dutch university of applied sciences with over 44,000 students in several campuses located in the southern Netherlands. The three largest Fontys campuses are located in the cities of Eindhoven, Tilbur ...

and SURF, the national organization in the Netherlands that coordinates ICT in higher education. The system works as follows:Help me! Online Learner Support through the Self-Organised Allocation of Peer Tutors
/ref> Online students requiring help type their question into an IM-like client; they are then automatically and instantaneously paired with another student who is currently online. When the conversation is over, both parties rate the experience. The currently used allocation algorithm does not perform a semantic analysis of the question; it allocates peer tutors based on their position in the curriculum relative to the help seeker, their past workload and past ratings. A simulation of the allocation algorithm was carried out and two 8-week pilot projects were conducted at the Open University and the Fontys University.

References

{{reflist Distance education in Europe Education in the Netherlands