Preparing for your Role as Tutorial LeaderAmelia HorsburghPhD Candidate, Department of EnglishGraduate Teaching Fellow, GMCTE University of Saskatchewan

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I am a Graduate Teaching Fellow at the U of S co-instructing GSR982 Mentored Teaching and GSR989 Philosophy and Practice of University Teaching, while I complete my PhD with the Department of English.

I am married and have a son. We spend family time renovating our house, cooking, and watching Treehouse together.

Saul, Summer 2013

A Tutorial Leader at a glance...Prepare a fifty-minute tutorial

once a week for approximately 20 students.

Attend the lectures.Mark student assignments.Reinforce learning concepts

presented during the lectures.Provide a safe space for students

to voice their ideas, questions, and concerns.

Learning ObjectiveBy the end of this session you should have a clear understanding of...◦the elements necessary to foster student success in tutorials.What elements foster student

success?Thoughts?

Fostering Student Success

Student Success

Learning Objectives

Learning Strategies

Supports

Rapport

Learning Objectives are...

Learning Objectives are statements that detail what the student should know or be able to do by the end of the class.

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“like a ‘road map’ to show the instructor and students where they are headed and what stops they will be making along the way” (Knaack 25).

Learning Objectives have 3 PartsThe expectations for student learning i.e.

“By the end of today’s tutorial session, you (the student) should be able to...”

Performance (what students are doing; action verb)

Condition (situation or format under which the learning happens)

Criteria (details about the learning; type, quality, or quantity)

Learning Objective Example

construct

a complete sentence

using a noun and a verb.”

“By the end of today’s tutorial session, the student should be able to . . .

Performance

Condition

Criteria

Individual Learning OpportunityWrite down an example of a

learning objective that you could use in a tutorial session. Remember to include...Performance (what students are doing; action verb)

Condition (situation or format under which the learning happens)

Criteria (details about the learning; type, quality, or quantity)

Learning Objectives Key Words

Analyze, define, measure, evaluate, defend, question, match, illustrate, etc.Essay, book report, presentation, skit, interpretive dance, online assignment, etc.Amount of evidence, number of pages, 12pt font, style/format MLA, APA, etc.

Learning Strategies

Learning Strategies are the opportunities you create for student learning.

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Learning Strategies in Tutorials

Individual

Learning

Strategies

Group Learnin

g Strategi

es

Activity-Focused Strategi

es

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Learning Strategies you could try...

Individual Learning Strategies• In-class worksheets• Discussion of homeworkGroup Learning Strategies• Teaching within the group• Engage in purposeful talk

Activity-Focused Strategies• Sharing in the round• Debate an issue/topic

Group Learning OpportunityLet’s engage in purposeful talk!

As a group, think of other examples of Individual, Group, and Activity-Focused learning strategies that you could use in your tutorial sessions.

Rapport

Rapport is building a professional relationship and connection with your students.

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When you Build Rapport...Studies show that students learn

more◦ Benson, Cohen & Buskist, 2005; Wilson, 2006

Students are more likely to attend class and pay attention◦ Benson, Cohen & Buskist, 2005

Students indicate they enjoy the subject matter more◦ Benson, Cohen & Buskist, 2005; Christensen & Menzel, 1998; McCrosky

et. al., 1996

Rapport Building in TutorialsLearn your students’ namesWrite supportive commentsUse encouraging wordsIncorporate active learning Initiate conversation Be approachable ______________________________________

Supports

Supports are people/places that aid and assist you in your teaching practice.

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SupportsYou are not alone. Seek out the

support of the instructor of the course, a fellow tutorial leaders, another graduate student, a mentor, your supervisor, and the GMCTE.

If you are not sure about something, ask your instructor.

“In graduate school, you must learn to be a student and a teacher and still feel like you have time to be human” (Curzan and Damour 179).

FOSTERING STUDENT SUCCESS IN TUTORIALSThis is how I envision your responsibilities as a tutorial leader that translate into student success.

Have a clear Learning Objective for each tutorial session.

Use different Learning Strategies.Build Rapport with your students.Take advantage of your Supports.

ResourcesCurzan, A., and L. Damour. 2006. First day to final grade: a graduate student’s

guide to teaching. Ann Arbor, MI: The University of Michigan Press.Knaack, L. 2011. A practical handbook for educators: designing learning opportunities. Whitby, ON: de Sitter Publications.