Galloping Towards Student Success:
Published on Oct 17, 2016
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Galloping Towards Student Success:
Using Collaborations in Tutor Training
Your Jocky- Rebecca Cofer
Coordinator, Campus Tutoring Services
Current position:
Coordinator of tutoring services at ABAC (one of a few)
Previous- writing center at VT, TECHniques Center tutor coordinator
Educational background- English and History BA degrees and MA in English Lit.
Find me on Facebook!!!
Research interests lie in both the effectiveness of tutor training and the benefits of tutoring for the tutor.
Coordinator of tutoring services at ABAC (one of a few)
Previous- writing center at VT, TECHniques Center tutor coordinator
Educational background- English and History BA degrees and MA in English Lit.
Find me on Facebook!!!
Research interests lie in both the effectiveness of tutor training and the benefits of tutoring for the tutor.
My institution- ABAC
- Rural, South GA college
- About 3500 students
- Largest degrees- ag, nursing, biololgy
- Over 50% of students in 4 year degrees now
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, GA
~many first-gen students and adult learners
~Offer both 2 and 4 year degrees- became 4 year school in 2008
~Historically founded as an agricultural school
~Now a military friendly school
~many first-gen students and adult learners
~Offer both 2 and 4 year degrees- became 4 year school in 2008
~Historically founded as an agricultural school
~Now a military friendly school
My Tutoring Center
- Drop-in, peer tutoring
- Staffed by1 full-time coordinator
- CRLA certified in all 3 levels
- 42 tutors currently employed
- Under our campus library, in what's becoming a student center
Academic Achievement Center at ABAC
All drop-in tutoring by 99% peer tutors; some faculty do pull an hour or so in the Center.
Tutors in most subjects taught at ABAC- music theory, welding, power equipment, etc.
Ms. Cofer is the only full-time staff in the AAC- she is also an Academic Counselor and advisor as well.
The AAC went from having no training to being certified in 2 years with a new coordinator.
All drop-in tutoring by 99% peer tutors; some faculty do pull an hour or so in the Center.
Tutors in most subjects taught at ABAC- music theory, welding, power equipment, etc.
Ms. Cofer is the only full-time staff in the AAC- she is also an Academic Counselor and advisor as well.
The AAC went from having no training to being certified in 2 years with a new coordinator.
Untitled Slide
We know from research and our own experience that training our tutors is key to having a successful center.
Sheets writes, "solid tutor training... was a key component in most successful developmental programs" (2012, p. 4).
We know it's needed and should be useful, but how that's provided varies all over the nation and world.
Sheets writes, "solid tutor training... was a key component in most successful developmental programs" (2012, p. 4).
We know it's needed and should be useful, but how that's provided varies all over the nation and world.
Photo by aloshbennett
Tutor Training in the AAC-
How It's Done and What We use
With limited staffing, the AAC has to get creative with the way we offer our tutor training.
Each semester, we offer something new in our training, from conferences to leading sessions to new speakers. Our tutors return for multiple years so training can't be static.
Each semester, we offer something new in our training, from conferences to leading sessions to new speakers. Our tutors return for multiple years so training can't be static.
Photo by Giridhar-Photography
Elements of AAC training
- Large group training
- Subject/content monthly meetings
- Topical workshops- 1/semester
- Other assignments
- Level III tutors- more leadership assignments
In your packets, you will find a sheet called "AAC Tutor Training Requirements"- this is a brief guide
Each semester the tutors do all of these items, but in various forms.
Examples:
Level III tutors go to conferences, present to groups on campus and aid in the large group training for fellow tutors.
Other assignments- include D2L modules and quizzes, tutgor manual writing assignment and makeup workshops if needed.
Each semester the tutors do all of these items, but in various forms.
Examples:
Level III tutors go to conferences, present to groups on campus and aid in the large group training for fellow tutors.
Other assignments- include D2L modules and quizzes, tutgor manual writing assignment and makeup workshops if needed.
Photo by RichGrundy
The Timeline for Changes
- Attendance at national tutoring conference in Tenn. (ATP- ideas brewing)
- Slow changes to large group trng
- Addition of campus interviews for Level II- Fall 2015
- Level III- project to research other tutoring centers across US
After attending a national tutoring conference about 3 years ago, I learned about using resources you have.
Spring semester after that conference- began adding departmental speakers to large group trng- multicultural depart., athletics, Student Development
Spring semester after that conference- began adding departmental speakers to large group trng- multicultural depart., athletics, Student Development
What the research says about using Experts
Provides "an extra dimension of developmental training" (98)
A 1987 article by Shaw & Posey examines the use of resident expertise to enhance tutor training.
1. Provides a broad spectrum of trng
2. Content and expertise is provided that is feasible to do with one department staff member.
3. Gives others on campus a vested interest in the program's success.
4. Evaluations are done by the tutors in the study and were extremely positive in terms of their applicability to tutoring.
1. Provides a broad spectrum of trng
2. Content and expertise is provided that is feasible to do with one department staff member.
3. Gives others on campus a vested interest in the program's success.
4. Evaluations are done by the tutors in the study and were extremely positive in terms of their applicability to tutoring.
Photo by Alexandra*Rae
Topics Covered by Campus Experts:
- Students with disabilities
- Tutor wellness
- Tutoring students from all cultures
- Student athletes
- Referral skills
- Vice President's welcome
Campus departments covered many CRLA topics in real-time, interactive, engaging ways.
They attended large group trng, served as interviewees for Level II tutors, came in for the topical workshops.
One of the best- comunication skills from an engaged Comm faculty member.
Most important speaker- VP for Academic Affairs- shows the tutors they are valued by the administration
Approximate number of guest campus speakers since fall 2015- each semester about 10 or so.
They attended large group trng, served as interviewees for Level II tutors, came in for the topical workshops.
One of the best- comunication skills from an engaged Comm faculty member.
Most important speaker- VP for Academic Affairs- shows the tutors they are valued by the administration
Approximate number of guest campus speakers since fall 2015- each semester about 10 or so.
Photo by Shawn Harquail
Our Examples and Experts
Examples to Build from and take Back to your Center
Items we use in our training from other campus departments. many of these were provided by the speakers.
1. Student athlete interview- one of our coaches
2. Level II Resource sheet- various campus offices asked to participate
3. Difficult students or students in distress- campus counselor
4. Adult Learners- academic counselor who speacilizes in that area
5. Critical thinking skills- English faculty member
1. Student athlete interview- one of our coaches
2. Level II Resource sheet- various campus offices asked to participate
3. Difficult students or students in distress- campus counselor
4. Adult Learners- academic counselor who speacilizes in that area
5. Critical thinking skills- English faculty member
Photo by Leo Reynolds
What the Campus thinks
"Who doesn't like talking about themselves" and their Department?
Here's some of what the campus partners said about their work with the AAC tutors:
"They learned the full range and reach of Academic Support"
"Students tend to focus only on what they know and see....gives the tutor an insight into the world of academia."
"Also , gives the interviewee a chance to reflect"
"Most students are not aware of our resources so we talked about this."
Overall, departments loved working with the best students at ABAC.
"They learned the full range and reach of Academic Support"
"Students tend to focus only on what they know and see....gives the tutor an insight into the world of academia."
"Also , gives the interviewee a chance to reflect"
"Most students are not aware of our resources so we talked about this."
Overall, departments loved working with the best students at ABAC.
Photo by Dusty J
Guiding the Presenters
Structre and Info for the presenters/experts
Be aware that bringing in speakers still requires work from the tutor administration.
1. Need to give presenters lots of info and guidelines before the session (CRLA info, length, content, methods).
2. Be present when they are training the tutors- need to know info tutors are hearing.
3. Get digital copies of info from presenters for certification- not always easy thing.
4. Change it up each semester- for a few reasons.
1. Need to give presenters lots of info and guidelines before the session (CRLA info, length, content, methods).
2. Be present when they are training the tutors- need to know info tutors are hearing.
3. Get digital copies of info from presenters for certification- not always easy thing.
4. Change it up each semester- for a few reasons.
Stop for a few
Feedback and thanks
Shaw and Posey stress the need for assessing whether the expert speakers are meeting the needs of your training.
Ask the tutors- is this useful for your tutoring/campus knowledge?
What topics would you, as a tutor, appreciate- our Center created "What to do When" trng from this prompt.
Feedback from the trainers as well- did the time work, did you enjoy presenting, what support can I offer next time?
Give thanks to the experts- emails, campus newsletter thank yous, cards in campus mail
Ask the tutors- is this useful for your tutoring/campus knowledge?
What topics would you, as a tutor, appreciate- our Center created "What to do When" trng from this prompt.
Feedback from the trainers as well- did the time work, did you enjoy presenting, what support can I offer next time?
Give thanks to the experts- emails, campus newsletter thank yous, cards in campus mail
Photo by monkeyc.net
Benefits of Using Campus Partners
- Raises awareness of your center across the whole campus
- Cost effective and low staffing needs
- Tutors learn about all departments
- Admin. loves campus collaborations
- Campus gets to see the best of the best in the tutors
Photo by Simon Greig Photo
Tips from Our Center
- Use the experts you have
- Give specifics
- Ask for ideas from others
- Change it up
- Use your community contacts, too
- Document it all
1. Find what people have special interests or skill sets in- example- my coworker and I did diversity (based on Safe Zone trng we lead)
2. Make sure your presenters know all the details and the importance of this trng.
3. Get ideas from tutors and other centers' professionals
4. Know that static trng is boring
5. Community helps too- diversity trng, etc.
6. Document everything for you and for administration
2. Make sure your presenters know all the details and the importance of this trng.
3. Get ideas from tutors and other centers' professionals
4. Know that static trng is boring
5. Community helps too- diversity trng, etc.
6. Document everything for you and for administration
Photo by .solo
Share Your Methods
Tell us about the way you use outside resources in trng
Does your campus utilize outside speakers for your training? If so, in what ways?
Share a few with the group.
Share a few with the group.
Photo by tpower1978
