EE Tutoring Workshop 2014 Tutoring Workshop Department of Electrical Engineering For the benefit of new Tutors and TAs Facilitated by: Simon Winberg &

EE Tutoring Workshop 2014

Tutoring WorkshopTutoring Workshop

Department of Electrical EngineeringFor the benefit of new Tutors and TAs

Facilitated by: Simon Winberg & Renee SmitFacilitated by: Simon Winberg & Renee Smit

3 March 2014


OutlineOutline

Introduction by ReneePresentation by Simon:

“Being an EE Tutor” (10-15 min)WorkshopSumming up


How do students learn?How do students learn?

The fact that teaching has happened, does not necessarily imply learning has taken place!


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 LearningEngaging in Learning


Approaches to learningApproaches to learning

Surface approach: focus on rote, “plug-n-chug”

Deep approach: active search

for meaning


Why are tutors important?Why are tutors important?

More of them, more available to studentsCloser to the studentsAn essential part of the feedback loop

Lifecycle of teaching & tutoring


Feedback from surveyFeedback from survey

The studyLecturersTutorsStudents


A few crucial points….A few crucial points….

Language

Diversity

Quality Feedback

Learning from one another

A tutor should help to facilitate this structure


Being an EE TutorBeing an EE Tutor


What is a Tutor?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


Guiding vs. DoingGuiding vs. Doing

A tutor should not do the work for the student!!

Rather the tutor should act a coach Guiding Listening Observing Motivating


Being an EE TutorBeing 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


Pracs and TutorialsPracs 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


General AssistanceGeneral Assistance

Website maintenanceTesting exercises / pracsFinding resources (e.g. open-source tools)Photocopying


Claim forms and RemunerationClaim 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


Tutor Application FormTutor 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.


Pracs / Project SupportPracs / 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


Overall aim for tutoring in pracsOverall aim for tutoring in pracs

Ensure the students are able to make progress on the assigned prac

How can this be accomplished?...


Prac Tutoring TechniquesPrac 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 firstIt’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?)


Prac TutoringPrac 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


InvigilationInvigilation

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)


Tutor teamsTutor 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


Improving tutoring abilitiesImproving 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. group

Accommodating 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.


Improving tutoring abilitiesImproving 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)


Adding valueAdding 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

Documents

EE Tutoring Workshop 2014 Tutoring Workshop Department of Electrical Engineering For the benefit of new Tutors and TAs Facilitated by: Simon Winberg &