REZA- Another Attribute of Tutoring

If I were to suggest another attribute for tutors, I would suggest for them to remember to have patience because some people are very conscientious about asking for help and if you seem as if you are getting impatient, it could affect their performance. Not only would it make them nervous, it would probably make them not want to ask for help again because they feel rushed or will feel as if you think they are not smart enough. Everyone takes things in a different way and you never know how a person will feel if you do not demonstrate patience.

REZA- Easiest and Toughest Attributes

I think the easiest one for me to implement is being empathetic. I am a very understanding person and will do anything I can to try to help a person understand something. The hardest one that I think will be the most difficult to implement is teaching better study habits. Studying is one of those things that you should have learned all throughout school. Therefore, it will be difficult to teach an adult how to change their routine.

REZA- 5 Things Associted with Tutoring

Being a tutor in my opinion is being there to help a student help themselves. I think a tutor is a person who should guide and encourage their tutee in the right direction to succeed; it does not mean doing their work for them. I also think it is important for the tutor to be empathetic to the student's situation and never judge them for what they do not know. Being a tutor is teaching your tutee how to learn better study habits and better time management to help them succeed.

Hurley-scenario 4.

Hurley-scenario 4.
In this scenario, I would first remind them that I am not allowed to give my personal opinion on what their grade should be for an assignment. I would then focus on the assignment and try to come up with remedies for the reasons that they received the grade they did, especially if the instructor left notes on the assignment detailing why that grade was received.I would also try to get the student to focus on areas that could improve their writing and thought process.

Hurley-tutoring scenario 1

Hurley-tutoring scenario 1.
In this scenario, I would begin by telling the student that while high school is very difficult, college is very different from high school and for that reason, it is not fair to themselves to use their high school grades as a marker to where they should be in college. I would also try to get the tutee to focus not on the grade so much and focus on what they are doing right.

Hurley-adding to my personal code of ethics.

Hurley-adding to my personal code of ethics.
One thing that I would add to my own personal code of ethics is respecting the position of tutor and the opportunity granted to me. Being a tutor is a great responsibility, and as such, the position of tutor should be respected by all those who hold that position. I believe that when you are granted an opportunity, it should not be taken lightly. It should be honored in the highest manner.

Hurley-things that are important to a successful tutor.

Hurley-things that are important to a successful tutor.
not being quick to judge and establishing the levels of efforts that are expected is very important to a successful tutor. tutees, and people in general, can tell when they are being judged. When a person feels that they are being judged, they will withdraw from you and that is the total opposite of the desired effect for tutoring. Also, tutees should know what is expected of them and how much effort that they are expected to show. Also, tutees should be aware of what they can expect from you also. Making sure that this is implemented can prevent any miscommunication about expectations.

Hurley-promote successful tutoring.

Hurley-promote successful tutoring.
Adhering to these do's and dont's promotes an open and stress free environment to tutor and learn. When you are punctual and you establish with the tutee what your responsibilities are as well as theirs, it allows for a much more productive experience.

Hurley-suggesting another attribute.

Hurley-suggesting another attribute.
If I was asked to provide another attribute, it would be tolerance. In the world today, to many people lack tolerance for another persons race, religion or any other sort of background. You can not truly do the job of a tutor without possessing tolerance for everyone no matter what your personal beliefs may be.

Hurley-Easiest and hardest attribute of a tutor.

Hurley-Easiest and hardest attribute of a tutor.
I believe the easiest attribute of a tutor for me is a passion for learning and teaching. My goal in life is to teach history in college so I believe that I possess that attribute very much so. The hardest for me will be humor. I have been told that I am a funny person, but my sense of humor is not shared by many. If you want to make me laugh, just have a good history joke.

Hurley-Personal definition of "tutor"

Hurley-Personal definition of "tutor"
My personal definition of a tutor is a person who supports and encourages a student to do their very best. My responsibilities as a tutor include being fair, honest, supportive, and being a good listener. I also believe that tutors need to be accountable to each of their tutee's and to the other tutors that they work with also. The five things that I associate with tutoring are honesty, fairness, being a friend, supporting a fellow student, and listening.

Module Assignment 5
Bean-Scenario 6-Of course you can write!  It's not hopeless, you may feel that you don't write well, but that's what these tutoring sessions are for, to help you to write better.

Module 5 Assignment
Bean-Scenario 4-"It doesn't matter what I would have given you, I am not your instructor.  Maybe you should go and talk to the instructor and find out how you can improve your grade the next time.

Module 2 Assignment
Bean-Adherence-Because these are tried and true methods.
Bean-Items for a successful tutor-Do tutor at a level that the tutee can grasp (Do # 11).  Don't be afraid to admit that you don't know an answer (Don't # 4)
Bean-Personal code of ethics-Don't try to be a tutee's best friend.  This may encourage unethical behavior.

Module 1 Assignment
Bean-Another attribute for tutors-Listening would be my suggestion.  I think that listening to the concerns and difficulties (concerning course material) is an essential step in being a successful tutor.

Module 1 Assignment
Bean-Easiest and toughest attributes-The easiest for me will be humor, since that is the way that I deal with most situations that arise.  The toughest will be empathy, because I have no empathy for laziness or whining.

Module 1 Assignment
Bean- My own definition of tutoring-Helping others understand course material in order to better complete assignments
Bean-tutor responsibilities-Listen, process and help
Bean-5 things associated with tutoring-1) Listening 2) Assessing tutee's understanding 3) Determining best game plan for tutee 4) Helping 5) Praising positive efforts

Jaimes - Active Listening

I believe that when you “tune in” to what the student is saying you are beginning the first step of active listening. This is really important, in my opinion, because if you are recalling what you already know about the subject, then you will be able to better communicate with the student.  Another skill that I believe that is very important in active listening is body language. If you are sitting with your side to the student you have physically created a barrier to communication. It is better to sit either facing the student or sit semi-facing the student so the student can see that you are open to communication.  It just creates what I call a “positive-vibe”.   Something that I found to be very important in the presentation was when it talked about not interrupting the student even if you believe that they are headed towards an incorrect answer.  This is one thing I used to not think that mattered, but as I got more experience with tutoring, I actually found this to be a great way for students to learn. Most of the time, the student will catch their mistake and correct it themselves. We learn from our mistakes, right? Also, just as the presentation portrayed, sometimes you may have misunderstood where the person was going with their answer. I mean, if you interrupt the student and they were actually headed in the right direction you may confuse the student and cause them to get discouraged and make yourself look like a bad tutor. Communication is a big thing in tutoring; without communication skills it is impossible to tutor and tutor well.

Eye contact, in my humble opinion, is somewhat different. Some people believe that it is very important for good communication, but I believe a little differently. Occasional eye contact is good (in most cultures) but I have been in situations where someone is “staring me down”. This can make one feel very uncomfortable. The student may be concentrating more on the tutor staring at them than they are on their work. So if you use eye contact, just know how to do it appropriately. 

Altherr-Digital Immigrant

In as much as I am one of the adult learner these modules were referring too, I found this section quite interesting. I am a digital immigrant but accept the idea that what works best for this generation is more technology. I do however feel this can be an issue with some learning styles which makes our responsibility as tutors even more relevant. If it is a subject that a person already has difficulty with then taking the class on line I feel just adds to the problem. Reasons people tend to not want to sit in a seated class, besides the time element, is the fact they find the lectures boring and don't get much out of them. If instructors were to incorporate some of the ideas as the modules suggested the student might find the class more enjoyable and learn from it. In my opinion, taking an online class for a subject one already has difficulty with makes it harder to grasp the concepts. This is where us as tutors end up stepping in.

The key to helping the new generation learn better is for the instructor to keep current with technology and incorporate that into the class. As an adult learner we also need to become more in tune with technology since it is more than likely will be part of our new careers. Technology is not going away it is just going to become more advanced. In the classes that I have taken I have found instructors who are aware of this, know they should be using it but really don't know how to and just struggle. This aspect makes it very frustrating for me as a student and I get nothing out of the class.

The problem with technology however, is the fact it can be inoperable at times. I liked the suggestion of asking what is a plan B to the student; this subject even was discussed in my Biology class last night. This particular teacher gets alot of late assignments and of course "my computer was broke" is the number one excuse. It is easy to procrastinate on something you don't enjoy, which just adds to the anxiety.

The world is changing and teachers need to update and change with it and get a better understanding of what is going to help make their students successful.

Berry - Roles, Responsibilties, Ethics

Having rules and guidelines helps promote successful tutoring. Brand new tutors with no training would have no idea of what they should or should not do. Learning how to be successful as a tutor can increase the knowledge shared during a tutoring session. Once a tutor knows what is expected of them and the tutee has an idea of what to expect from the tutor, each party becomes more comfortable in their role.

One of the most important things a tutor can do is to be prepared. Review the material that is to be covered during the next session. Admit when you do not understand a concept and get back with the tutee. I encourage the tutee to use alternative sources when they do not understand a concept. Youtube is excellent for videos on any subject. I have used this myself when not understanding a concept the teacher is explaining.

I could not think of anything I would add to the code of ethics, unless it was this, remember that we are all human and we have preconceived notions about how we feel or act in certain situations. To err is to be human, if a mistake is made, admit it and do the best you can to salvage any wrongs before leaving it behind and moving on.

Webster - Scenario 1

Tutee:  “I have always made “A’s” in high school, so I know I should be making “A’s” in college too.”

College is a whole different realm because we are challenged and graded on more than just the assignment completion. I would explain to my tutee that making good grades is not out of the question, but that since college is the next level it is supposed to be harder. I understand that the tutee may feel overwhelmed. When I started college, I realized just how much I was spoon-fed in high school as we were not challenged and graded more-so on whether or not we completed the assignment.  I would reassure them with one of my favorite quotes "With desire, focus, and the willingness to treat every obstacle as an opportunity, it's amazing what you can accomplish", and direct them to this website filled with tips for transitioning from high school to college. I would also let them know that I survived, therefore they can too.

Jaimes - Setting Goals & Planning

When planning my tutoring session, I try to be sure that the students have all of their materials ready; for example:  syllabi, calculators, assignments, notes, etc. After meeting with the student for the first time, I usually know what they are going to be going to be needing help with so I try to be organized myself, and have helpful documents, notes, flashcards, etc., to help out with the tutoring session.  

One thing I wish I would have known about previously would have to be that KWL chart. I believe this is a very good way to keep things organized and to see the progress that the student is making. I believe that this would be something great to utilize every session for each subject the student is being tutored in.

After reading about the KWL chart, I will probably apply this to the tutoring session to help my tutees set goals. Another way that I have helped my tutees set goals is to ask them what they personally want from the subject they are being tutored in.

Some troubles I have ran into in trying to get my tutees to set goals is when the student isn’t very goal oriented and really don’t care about they are taking. I often hear students tell me, “I’ll never use this in my life again, so why do I even bother with this class?” I can understand where they are coming from sometimes; however, I try to find real world examples of how they will apply the subject material in their life or career. Usually by doing this, the student better understands why they are taking the class and try and set goals to learn the material. Also, when the student doesn’t really show interest in the class, this causes them to procrastinate most of the time. I usually try my best to set out a written plan for the student to go by and this normally keeps them on track.

Berry - Definition of Tutor

Tutors are persons with the roles of leader and translator. A tutor is someone who has an understanding of a subject and is able and willing to share the knowledge with others.  I feel that there has to be some love of the content. A person who does not care about a subject will not give the same that a person who loves a subject will. There is a level of enthusiasm that comes with enjoying a subject and tutees will always be able to tell the difference.

Berry - Easiest and Hardest Attributes

For me the easiest attribute is patience. There is nothing in this world I love better than to see a tutee "get it"! To me its like watching children take the first steps. I have been known to cry with joy when a tutee gets a particularly hard concept down. (Well maybe not cry, but I have been teary eyed for sure!)

The hardest attribute in tutoring can be being prepared. When tutees want to understand a concept they ask questions that a tutor might not always be ready to answer. I have been asked questions with no way to be able to supply the answer. While no one has all the answers, teachers have more knowledge and a deeper understanding of the subject they teach that tutors might not have. 

Berry - Another Attribute for Tutors

I would add approachability as an attribute to tutoring. Tutors must be aware at all times what type of presentation they are offering to a tutee. Tutors should lead by example and be ready to greet and work with any student. It has been my experience that a person who needs help doesn't always know what they need or how to ask for what they need. If a tutor is approachable, a student might find the answers they need from any tutor not necessarily the one they are assigned to. As a personal example, students that have encountered me before and know that I am pretty good with math, will stop me in the hallway and ask questions, or simply talk to me. I hear lots of problems, whether they pertain to math or not because I am always smiling and if I am not busy they know that I will help if I can or find the one who can if I cannot.

Berry - 5 Things Associated with Tutoring

There are more than 5 things that are associated with tutoring but my top 5 picks are as follows:

Patience- A tutor must be willing to answer the same question 10 times without getting upset. They must also be willing to restate or confirm what the tutee understands or explain and expand what they do not understand. Tutors must be willing to direct a student who goes off track and gently help them back up. Becoming upset or frustrated does not help the tutee.

Reliability- A tutor must be reliable. If the tutor does not show up on time or cannot be relied upon to show up, the tutee will not be served in the manner they should be. The time that tutees spend waiting on a tutor could be better spent by working with a reliable tutor.

Excellent communication skills- Only being able to communicate is not good enough to be a tutor. A tutor should have excellent communication skills. Tutors will spend time talking to tutees, they will also spend time writing examples. A tutor with limited communication skills might not be able to give the tutee the things they need. Tutors should be able to read non-verbal information from tutees as well as communicate non-verbally.

Positive attitudes- Tutors with negative attitudes can push tutees away unknowingly. A tutor with a positive attitude will encourage the sharing of knowledge. A pleasant smile helps ease tutees when they are frustrated with the subject matter.

Preparation- Tutors should be ready to help tutees by having any and all materials they need before the start of the session. Tutors should be well versed in the material they are tutoring in. A lack of preparation can cause frustration in both tutor and tutee, and might possibly confuse a student. 

Beane - Top 5 Study Strategies

The top five ways that I study are probably the least frivolous of anyone.  I am more of an "old fashioned" learner and am trying to break into some of the newer norms.

1. I study my notes.  I re-read them multiple times, looking through the class' text to find things that I am uncertain I understand from my notes.

2.  Flashcards -- I can't get away from vocabulary and fact review with notecards.  I always have a stack of blank notecards laying around so that when a test is lurking in my future I can fill them out and study with them.

3.  Re-writing information -- I tend to learn better when I have to put it into my own words, so re-writing notes is very effective for me.  Despite the fact that it can take up some time, I like to reword my notes from class because it helps me to truly learn the material.

4.  Re-teaching -- If there is an opportunity for me to teach the information to someone else I jump on it.  I am definitely a teacher at heart, because when it comes to study groups I am going to take the lead and teach any materials that others may have problems with.

5.  The longer I am a learner, the more frequently I realize that material covered in class isn't all of the information out there.  I now find myself researching new information on my own to gain my understanding, where as I used to ONLY cover what had been taught in class and avoiding confusing myself with more information.

Attribute for tutors

Flexibility is a very good attribute for a tutor to posess. No student is the same, so one will need to use different means, ideas and methods of explaining to get through to some students. It is very important  to be reasonably flexible to the needs of the students.

Attributes

The atribute that is the easyest for me to implement is team ethic. I always make my students aware that I'm not the one who worked and studdied hard for the grade that was made. They did the work. All I did was just assisted them with the process.

Definition of Tutoring

As a tutor, one can expect to hold many responsibilities including confidentiality, Sympathy, Empathy, compassion, humor, and so much more. A tutor is a friend, mentor, or simply whatever the tutee needs him/her to be. Most of the battle is Psychological. The hardest part is getting the student to open his/her mind to learn. Not every student is the same and one has to be a good judge of character, in order to decide which method is the best to use on a particular student.

Jaimes - Communication Skills

I was involved in a rather difficult tutoring situation this week. For me, this was a first. I had a student come to me for help and I wasn’t able to understand the material myself. To begin with, the student got really discouraged when I told him that I didn’t know some of the information presented in his chapter assignment. I didn’t want to “leave him hanging” so I let him know that I would go and research the material and find out what I could to be able to help him. He still seemed discouraged and said that he felt that he would just rather drop the course all-together. When I heard this, I felt like I wasn’t doing my job as a tutor. I told him that maybe he shouldn’t give up yet. Just give it some time. That’s when he told me that his first test was just in a couple of days. This is when I realized he was just really desperate and frustrated. I could understand him completely. I let him know that he still had a day or two to study and that I would be back with more knowledge of the material the next day. He asked me if I was really willing to re-learn the material just to help him. I told him that I would absolutely do this because this is my job as a tutor. He then agreed that he would not drop the class just yet, and that he would give it a try. So I went home and studied up on some of the material and also had help from a fellow tutor (she was a tremendous help). Sure enough, I sat down with him the following day and reviewed some of the material with him. He said that he had gone home and studied, but was having trouble “connecting the dots”. When we figured out where he was getting lost, he then started to become encouraged and it was like a light bulb turned on over his head. He understood everything and he was very proud of himself and told me that he wasn’t going to drop the class and he was very thankful for my help. I felt very proud of him and I also thanked him for allowing me to help him. It gave me a great feeling of accomplishment and I’m sure he felt the same way.

If I could give advice to another tutor that was facing this type of situation, I would tell them to figure out why the student seemed so discouraged. I wish I would have known beforehand that he was really frustrated because his test was coming up very soon and he still wasn’t comfortable with the material. I would have been able to encourage him from the start not to give up and that it may take a little time, but he would get through it as long as he dedicated himself to his work.

Altherr-Communication Skills

My first tutoring session, utilizing my new found skills, went great. Her first test in math is tomorrow, I was pleasantly surprised that she came prepared. After introductions we discussed her other classes that she does feel confident in and how we could bring those same skills to Math. She already had good study skills. As we have learned in the modules, I felt what she really wanted was reassurance.

Her one obstacle was she felt unsure of the instructors expectations. I reassured her that he does want his students to succeed and gives them many opportunities to do so. She could see that by the different options he makes available he does want that but in the same time makes them accountable whether they will or won't. I let her know that obviously she was taking the action to be successful by seeking tutoring.

I feel she left confidant that she will be able to pass the test tomorrow and I believe she will.