About tutor training at UQ
Welcome to the tutor training pages, where you will find resources that
will help you to design, plan, resource and evaluate tutor training
programs. If the information in this section of the site does not serve
your needs then please contact
The PDF document (2.3mb) A tutor’s guide to teaching and learning at UQ covers a range of approaches to small group teaching and learning and also includes other UQ resources and policies related to tutoring. Please note that some of the links in this document are in the process of being updated. For more up-to-date links, especially in relation to UQ policies, plase consult the UQ tutors site.
Most of the University's teaching, particularly in laboratory and practical classes, is performed by part-time tutors. Most of these tutors are honours students or postgraduate students, with little or no teaching experience. Pressure on resources and reduction in staff-student ratios suggest that part-time tutors will play an increasing role in the University's total teaching activity. It is therefore important that tutors be adequately trained.
The provision of appropriate training for tutors imposes certain logistic difficulties. First, the training may be specific to a particular discipline or to a set of related disciplines. Second, the turnover of tutorial staff is large implying a continuing need to handle large numbers. Third, many tutors are not appointed until the teaching semester is almost under way. These difficulties suggest that tutor training is best managed on a School basis, adopting a model already implemented in some Schools which organise their own training for tutors, often in conjunction with the Teaching and Educational Development Institute.
Schools are therefore encouraged to work with TEDI, either individually or in groups, to develop training programs appropriate for their needs. Such programs, which might occupy one or two days at the start of semester, should be designed for delivery within the School(s) with TEDI's input where appropriate and feasible. It is recognised that some costs may be incurred in program design, and the University will consider whether some financial assistance can be given.
The Sessional Teaching website is a useful resource for case studies, guidelines and teaching ideas for Heads of Schools, Course-coordinators and sessional teachers.
