Student Development 150

Tutor Training

Student Development 150 is an introduction to tutoring skills for students wishing to act as peer tutors at the college. The course emphasizes the linking of course content and critical thinking skills with the ability and skills necessary to assist students in their learning process.

1/2 unit

Upon successful completion of the required coursework, the student will be able to:

1. describe the role of a tutor;

2. communicate with client/learners who have various learning styles;

3. employ a variety of methods to help students develop skills in their subject area;

4. create instructional materials in subject area skills;

5. identify client learning styles.

Students must complete modules 1, 2, 3, and 6. We will offer these in workshops before school starts and mid-semester for those who missed the earlier sessions. Then they must do either module 4a or 4b. Then they must complete at least one of the Library Research workshops in Module 5. These are offered weekly during the regular semester. Sign up with them in the Library. If you have already completed one as a part of another class, choose a section which you have not finished yet. Then they must complete at least two hours of practice/observation in Module 7 in either the Learning Center or the Math/Science Center. there will be ongoing opportunities throughout the semester to meet this requirement in the Lab in which the student works. This would be a total of 8 hours of instruction.

Module 1

The Role of the Tutor 1 Hour

Learning Center Staff

Promotion of independent learning

Personalizing instruction

Facilitating client insight into the learning process

Provide a peer or student perspective on learning and school success

Respecting individual differences

Module 2

Steps in the Typical Tutoring Session 1 Hour

Learning Center Staff

Climate setting

Identification of task

Breaking task into parts

Getting Down to Work

Communication Strategies

Planning the next session

Closing and goodbye

Module 3

Teaching and Learning Strategies 1 Hour

Disabled Student Center Staff

Identification of Learning Disabilities

Client Learning Styles

Module 4a

Content area tutoring Methods: Math/Science 1 Hour

Math/Science Center Staff

Short term “hit and run” tutoring

Module 4b

Content area tutoring methods: Writing 1 Hour

Writing Center Staff + guest faculty English and ESL

The Writing Process

Module 5

Overview of Library Resources 1 Hour

Library Staff

Students may select from Library Workshops during the semester:

-Online Catalog

-Journal and Newspaper Data Bases

-Research Strategies

-Searching the Web

Module 6

Special issues in an Educational Environment 1 Hour

Panel including Learning Center Staff, an Academic Counselor, an Affirmative Action Specialist, and staff from human resources.

Setting boundaries

Ethics

Intercultural issues

Sexual Harassment

Unlawful Discrimination

Equal Opportunity

Module 7

Practicum 2 hours

Learning Center Staff or Math/Science Center Staff

Observation of other Tutors (2 sessions at least)

Being Observed by Staff (at least one session)

Reflection/Journaling

Methods of Presentation

The following instructional methodologies may be used in the course:

1. lecture;

2. discussion;

3. guest lecturers;

4. online materials and instructional software;

5. case studies and discussion of effective methods.

VI. Assignments and Methods of Evaluation

1. Completion of a class journal

2. Quizzes and mid-term exams

3. Written Final Exam

VII. Textbook

MacDonald, R. The Master Tutor. Current Edition

Williamsville, New York: Cambridge Stratford, Limited, 2000.

9th Grade Textbook Reading Level. ISBN: 0-935-637-27-3