Post on 16-Jan-2016
Tutoring WorkshopDepartment of Electrical Engineering
21 Feb 2012
Facilitated by:
Simon Winberg & Renee Smit
EE Tutoring Workshop 2012
Outline
Introduction by Renee
Presentation by Simon:“Being an EE Tutor” (10-15 min)
Workshop
Summing up
EE Tutoring Workshop 2012
How do students learn?
The fact that teaching has happened, does not necessarily imply learning has taken place!
EE Tutoring Workshop 2012
Learning happens when students engage meaningfully with the material of the course and are free to seek feedback on their learning as frequently as necessary.
Engaging in Learning
EE Tutoring Workshop 2012
Approaches to learning
Surface approach: focus on rote, “plug-n-chug”
Deep approach: active search
for meaning
EE Tutoring Workshop 2012
Why are tutors important?
More of them, more available to studentsCloser to the studentsAn essential part of the feedback loop
Lifecycle of teaching & tutoring
EE Tutoring Workshop 2012
Feedback from survey
The studyLecturersTutorsStudents
EE Tutoring Workshop 2012
A few crucial points….
Language
Diversity
Quality Feedback
Learning from one another
A tutor should help to facilitate this structure
EE Tutoring Workshop 2012
Being an EE Tutor
EE Tutoring Workshop 2012
What is a Tutor?
Generally: A tutor is some who
assists others to learn
A university tutor has a variety of other responsibilities and tasks to do
Helping a student learning how to solve a knotty problem
EE Tutoring Workshop 2012
Guiding vs. Doing
A tutor should not do the work for the student!!
Rather the tutor should act a coach Guiding Listening Observing Motivating
EE Tutoring Workshop 2012
Being an EE Tutor
Some electrical engineering tutoring tasks Laboratory practicals (or “Pracs”) Marking assignments Facilitating students’ project work Tuts / hot-seat / extra-tuition Invigilating exams/tests General assistance to lecturer
EE Tutoring Workshop 2012
Pracs and Tutorials
Prac Takes place in a lab Students use computers or
specialized equipment to work through a set of practical tasks.
Tutorial An intensive tuition session,
done by a tutor or lecture to a small group of students
Usually done in a “tut room”
Prac venue
Tutorial
EE Tutoring Workshop 2012
General Assistance
Website maintenanceTesting exercises / pracsFinding resources (e.g. open-source tools)Photocopying
EE Tutoring Workshop 2012
Claim forms and Remuneration
Claim forms Available from Marlene Joubert Completed, signed by lecture and handed
back to her by the 25th of the month I recommend handing them in earlier
Keeping track of your time Could use a book or a
spreadsheet to keep trackof your time
Date Notes Time (h)04-May-09 Mon 05-May-09 Tue 1h prep lab
3h lab4
06-May-09 Wed Website 107-May-09 Thu 08-May-09 Fri Mark asg 4 2Weekend 11-May-09 Mon …
You don’t need to submit; it’s just for your own use
EE Tutoring Workshop 2012
Tutor Application Form
Tutors are supposed to do at most 20h per month per course.
If you are tutoring multiple courses, lecturers on all courses should be made aware of your other tutoring commitments.
You should check with your supervisor that he/she agrees with the tutoring commitments you have set yourself as it may hold back your main objective to get a degree.
EE Tutoring Workshop 2012
Pracs / Project Support
Pracs are often the main thing tutors doUsually close interaction with the students,
e.g. you assisting an individual or a small prac/project team
Not always so easy...Consider the main
aims for this tutoring task
EE Tutoring Workshop 2012
Overall aim for tutoring in pracs
Ensure the students are able to make progress on the assigned prac
How can this be accomplished?...
EE Tutoring Workshop 2012
Prac Tutoring Techniques
Be prepared At least read through the prac sheet… Preferably work through the prac on your own
Be on time, preferable early Arriving a few (e.g. 15) minutes early is good
to get set-up and ready Ensure all needed items for prac are in place
These are the main things to get right first
It’s considerate to send an email to the TA / lecturer to confirm you will be there,and possibly afterwards (e.g. went well? And difficulties? Improvements ideas?)
EE Tutoring Workshop 2012
Prac Tutoring
Sometimes you may have little to do during the prac
In such cases, it makes sense to have some other work to do. However…
You are responsible to check that people are behaving, making progress. Occasionally walk about to see if anyone is stuck.
Eish, but this is too difficult!
Only one student, who will surely
call if I’m needed
EE Tutoring Workshop 2012
Invigilation
Arrive around 15-20 min before the startEmail your lecture to confirm you’ll be
thereUsually, you can take turns with the other
invigilator walking around the room and sitting
(tea staff come by ~20 min prior to start of exam to ask your refreshment options)
EE Tutoring Workshop 2012
Tutor teams
For larger classes, a “tutor team” approach may be better
Members of the team are given certain responsibilities
Often need a team leader or “chief tutor”: Assists in organizing the tutor team(s) Ensuring all tutors know what to do & when Act as a rep, provide feedback to lecturer
EE Tutoring Workshop 2012
Improving tutoring abilities
Matching student / tutor learning styles Some students may handle certain ways of
learning better, or worse, than others E.g., more visual vs. more textual learning,
thinking vs. doing, independent vs. groupAccommodating diversity
Students are not all the same; they have different experiences, ability, likes/dislikes, among many factors that influence the way in which they act and interact with others.
EE Tutoring Workshop 2012
Improving tutoring abilities
Some things to try… Listen to students explain their problems Ask them to repeat things back to you Sketch and jot notes to aid explanations Keep a journal Act & look professional
(see handout)
EE Tutoring Workshop 2012
Adding value
Being a tutor can improve your skills, e.g. Improved communication, if not some empathy Patience Positive attitudes and Social skills / dealing with people Leadership abilities