Preparing for your Role as Tutorial Leader Amelia Horsburgh PhD Candidate, Department of English Graduate Teaching Fellow, GMCTE University of Saskatchewan University of Saskatchewan—Creative Commons license

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 Objective By 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 SupportsRapport

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. University of Saskatchewan—Creative Commons license “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 Parts The 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 Opportunity Write 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. University of Saskatchewan—Creative Commons license

Learning Strategies in Tutorials Individual Learning Strategies Group Learning Strategies Activity- Focused Strategies University of Saskatchewan—Creative Commons license

Learning Strategies you could try... Individual Learning Strategies In-class worksheets Discussion of homework Group Learning Strategies Teaching within the group Engage in purposeful talk Activity-Focused Strategies Sharing in the round Debate an issue/topic

Group Learning Opportunity Let’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. University of Saskatchewan—Creative Commons license

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 Tutorials Learn your students’ names Write supportive comments Use encouraging words Incorporate active learning Initiate conversation Be approachable ___________________

Supports Supports are people/places that aid and assist you in your teaching practice. University of Saskatchewan—Creative Commons license

Supports You 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 TUTORIALS This 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. Resources Curzan, A., and L. Damour First day to final grade: a graduate student’s guide to teaching. Ann Arbor, MI: The University of Michigan Press. Knaack, L A practical handbook for educators: designing learning opportunities. Whitby, ON: de Sitter Publications.