Classroom Experiment Gone Wrong

Today in my math class, I decided to try a new teaching method. Instead of lecturing on fractions as usual, I split the students into pairs and had them teach each other. The goal was to encourage peer learning and communication skills. However, instead of active engagement, some students spent more time chatting than discussing the lesson. Others seemed confused or frustrated with their partner's explanations. Reflecting back, I wonder if my eagerness overshadowed practical considerations like classroom dynamics and prior student cooperation. Is it normal for an innovative teaching approach to fail initially? Should I abandon peer learning altogether, or is persistence key?