Sample one day tutor training program

Icebreaker exercise

For example, in pairs tell each other about a favourite pastime, or what you like about x subject, or how you felt as a first-year student, or what you hope to get out of the workshop, or what makes a good and bad tutor.

Afterwards explain that tutors could use that exercise with their own students in their first tutorial.

Expectations of the role of tutor

Groups of 5-6 tutors discuss their new role:

• How do they feel about becoming a tutor?
• How will it advantage them, and the students?

Write these advantages on butcher's paper. Put up around walls after 15 mins and have groups rove to read each others' ideas. Workshop organiser then sums up main points from the lists, to the whole group.

Then a short 'talk' from workshop organiser about School or Faculty's expectations. Give out role descriptions or duties at this point. Allow discussion.

Teaching and learning

Groups of 10 tutors form a circle, with a workshop organiser facilitating. With a tutor acting as scribe, group considers what is learning. Try to define (this is harder than it looks). Then try to define what is teaching. Large group then reassembles.

A workshop organiser then gives handouts, uses overheads, featuring different definitions of teaching and learning.

Discussion, comments from whole group.
Approaches to learning theory.
How to stimulate deep approaches.
Handout.

Effective tutoring (fit to course needs)

Small group teaching: the issues.
In small groups, tutors discuss the advantages of learning in small groups.
How can I be an effective tutor in the small group?
Give handouts on groups, and effective tutoring. Discuss.

Try a few discussion techniques, one participant acting as tutor, with a neutral topic (e.g. discuss a question everyone might have an idea about, such as How do clouds form? or, What is the effect of unemployment in an individual?).

Marking students' work

As a big group, introduce the topic of assessment.
Types of assessments expected to mark.
How the marking works in this School.
Questions and answers from the floor.

Then individually, then in small groups again (with different people from the morning) do a marking exercise using a poor and a good piece of work. Discuss results in small groups.

Address issues raised and then discuss other marking issues related to your department.

Last, but definitely not least, address the issue of FEEDBACK.

Break, to stretch and move around the room before coming to next topic.

Problem students

Role plays. Give three scenes, work in trios. Two play, one watches, revolve. Or do in front of class. This would be effective especially if the lecturers acted out some problems in front of the tutors. The tutors will love it.

Discuss expected problems, solutions.

Admin matters, getting paid, sick leave etc, support available for tutors

Last exercise: Stand, go to a person in room you haven't spoken to today. Tell them about one thing you gained from the day.

Plenary, general summing up of day.

Complete evaluation form.