Development of a web-based peer mentoring and support platform: Enhancing academic performance of struggling second-year education students through guided assistance and collaborative learning

A web-based peer mentoring and support platform named PeerGuide was developed and evaluated in this study to improve the academic performance of second-year education students at SEAIT through mentoring and collaborative learning assistance for those struggling. The proposed solution has been integrated with several features, such as mentor matching, peer-to-peer direct messaging, progress tracking, a study focus timer, and a resource center to help minimize the barriers for seeking help, maintain study consistency, and enhance organizational skills. A descriptive research design was used to evaluate the system’s performance. A total of 100 education students participated in the evaluation, and a structured questionnaire was provided for feedback collection. The results showed positive perceptions in system performance as evidenced by Usability = 2.44 or 61% showing that participants were confident in usage, the system was well integrated with matched features, and the interface elements were easily understood. The results indicate that a simple and accessible mentoring workflow positively influences enhancement in studies, thus improving academic outcomes for at-risk students. In conclusion, PeerGuide presents an effective and accessible means of enhancing students’ study habits and help-seeking: a well-designed platform that supports better performance by enabling peer support and consistent study routines.