Steps to Being an Effective Tutor
Your next hurdle is remembering to keep your time limits in focus. Just as a runner steps into the blocks, runs the race, and kicks in that final sprint, so too will you need to set up your session at the beginning, continually monitor its progress, and wrap up your session with a final summary. The links below will give you some hints on how to implement these step smoothly.
Say you are scheduled to tutor in the TASC from noon to 1:30 PM. Since most sessions last around an hour, you think you have more than enough time for a walk-in student. But, since not all tutoring is appointment based, this can get a little sticky. What happens when your tutee has a couple of hours to spare and drops in the Center around 12:45 p.m.? He thinks he will be able to get a good two-hour session in. If there is no mention of time, he may be surprised, disappointed, and even frustrated when 1:30 PM rolls around and you announce that it's time for you to leave.
To avoid this situation, you should always let your tutee know how much time you have remaining before you are off duty. This should be done at the start of each session. If the tutee would like to cover more than can be covered in the time allotted, the tutor should explain this up front. The tutor should then help the tutee prioritize these items so that the most important concerns are covered first. By doing this, there are no surprises, and expectations for the session are established ahead of time.
Once the schedule has been set, it is both the tutor and tutee's responsibility to keep this schedule on task and to alter it if necessary. If you feel that you are moving too fast, by all means, GO SLOWER. Your tutee should also have enough control of the session to guide its pace. Let's say you and a tutee decide to cover three concepts during your session. You find however, that the tutee needs to employ better note-taking skills in order to learn effectively. You will need to make the tutee aware of this obstacle and re-establish your schedule together, taking time to include note-taking as part of the session.
Unlike an instructor who has to get through a certain amount of information, you have the liberty to cover sections based on the retention of information and the ability of the student to display comprehension.
Steps to Being an Effective Tutor
STEP
: Know What is Expected of You As A Tutor
Know your responsibilities and duties as a tutor in regards to tutees, TASC supervisors, instructors, and other tutors.
STEP
: Setting Up the Tutor Session
The better you are prepared; the better you will be able to tutor. Learn how to:
STEP
: Meeting Your Client's Needs
The better you meet your tutee's needs during a session, the better the session. Get to know your student's:
: The Ingredients of a Good Tutor Session: Ending the Tutoring SessionAbout 5-8 minutes before the end of your session, you should begin to wrap things up. Following are some guidelines to go by:
You have 10 minutes before you are off duty and a tutee walks in ready and eager to get started. Should you rush ahead and try to cover as much as possible in that 10 minutes? Probably not. Doing so will only serve to get both of you excited and possibly frustrated. It is best to explain that most sessions take around 45 minutes to an hour. Give the student a schedule of your tutoring times and times for other tutors. (See Referring to other Resources below.)
This is also a prime opportunity to refer tutees to other resources in the TASC or the LRC (Learning Resource Center). For example, if the tutee needs help with Quadratic Equations, refer him/her to the video tapes or math software. In 10 minutes, you should have more than enough time to set up the equipment or open the software and explain how it is used. Remember, you are not the only resource available to your tutees.
During your first few weeks on duty, please spend your free time going through the available TASC and LRC services and materials available.
Beginning a Session
Greetings
Setting the Agenda
Tutoring Techniques
Learning Styles
Study Skills
Online Learning
Group Tutoring
Tutoring Scenarios and Potential Problems
Rules
Diversity/Confidentiality
Tutor Test
e-mail: TASC@trcc.commnet.edu
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TASC website maintainer Matt
Burbine |