STUDENTS HELPING STUDENTS

1
STUDENTS HELPING STUDENTS

• Hazel Knox Anne McGillivray
• Centre for Lifelong Learning
• University of Paisley

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SETTING THE SCENE

• Credit-rated access modules
• First Steps at University
• First Steps in Science, Engineering Technology
• First Steps into Business
• Basic IT Skills
• Next Steps at University
• Realistic experience
• Variety of delivery assessment regimes
• Preparation for further university study
• Focus on study skills
• Credit towards award

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STUDENT TUTORS

• Share history with students
• Act as buffer between students and staff
• Make real input into tuition on module
  tutorials, labs, seminars
• Contribute to assessment
• Given briefing notes but run own sessions
• Paid (15 weeks, 3 hours per week, demonstrator
  rate)

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WORKSHOP OUTLINE

• Focus on perspective of Student Tutor

Think about the role before starting module
Reflect on role at end of module
Personal benefits
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QUESTIONS

• What is the role of the Student Tutor?
• How do Student Tutors perceive their role?
• What makes a good Student Tutor?
• When they reflect on the role, what lessons have
  they learned?
• How are Student Tutors selected?
• What influence has student tutoring had on the
  Student Tutors themselves?

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THINK ABOUT ROLE OF THE STUDENT TUTOR

• INITIAL QUESTIONNAIRE (anonymous)
• What three roles should a Student Tutor take on?
• What three qualities should a Student Tutor
  possess?
• What three things should a Student Tutor NOT do?
• I would make a good Student Tutor because

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REFLECT ON ROLE OF THE STUDENT TUTOR

• FINAL QUESTIONNAIRE (anonymous)
• What three roles have you taken on as a Student
  Tutor?
• What three qualities have made you a good Student
  Tutor?
• What three mistakes have you made as Student
  Tutor?
• What has being a Student Tutor done for you as a
  person?

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THINK ABOUT ROLE OF THE STUDENT TUTOR

• INITIAL QUESTIONNAIRE
• What three roles should a Student Tutor take on?
• What three qualities should a Student Tutor
  possess?
• What three things should a Student Tutor NOT do?

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PERCEIVED ROLES OF STUDENT TUTOR

• Advisor 7
• Facilitator 7
• Mentor 5
• Motivator 5
• Communicator 4
• Good listener 4
• Friend / Peer 3
• Team member 1
• responses from student tutor applicants 36

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PERCEIVED QUALITIES OF STUDENT TUTOR

• Patience 9
• Articulate 7
• Understanding 6
• Approachable 6
• Enthusiastic 6
• Confident 3
• Sense of humour 1
• responses from student tutor applicants 38

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PERCEPTIONSOF WHAT STUDENT TUTOR SHOULD NOT DO

• Be dismissive 9
• Be negative 7
• Be unprepared 5
• Be inattentive 3
• Criticise 3
• Talk too much 2
• Do students work 2
• Make assumptions 1
• Be dishonest 1
• responses from student tutor applicants 33

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I WOULD MAKE A GOOD STUDENT TUTOR BECAUSE

• Have shared the experience
• I know what it feels like to be new
• I understand what it feels like to be a student
  coming from college to university
• Good communicator
• I am motivated and enthusiastic. I relate well
  to people and am a good communicator
• I like to communicate with people and enjoy
  learning
• I have made most of the mistakes a new student
  will make

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REFLECT ON ROLE OF THE STUDENT TUTOR

• FINAL QUESTIONNAIRE
• What three roles have you taken on as a Student
  Tutor?
• What three qualities have made you a good Student
  Tutor?
• What three mistakes have you made as Student
  Tutor?
• What has being a Student Tutor done for you as a
  person?

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ROLES OF STUDENT TUTOR

• ACTUAL
• Advisor 1
• Facilitator 6
• Mentor 2
• Motivator 4
• Communicator 4
• Good listener 0
• Friend / Peer 4
• Team member 0
• Role model 2
• demystifier 1
• 24

• PERCEIVED
• Advisor 7
• Facilitator 7
• Mentor 5
• Motivator 5
• Communicator 4
• Good listener 4
• Friend / Peer 3
• Team member 1
• 36

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QUALITIES OF STUDENT TUTORS

• PERCEIVED
• Patience 9
• Articulate 7
• Understanding 6
• Approachable 6
• Enthusiastic 6
• Confident 3
• Sense of humour 1
• 38

• ACTUAL
• Patience 2
• Articulate 2
• Understanding 8
• Approachable 6
• Enthusiastic 1
• Confident 2
• Sense of humour 0
• 21

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PERCEPTIONSOF WHAT STUDENT TUTOR SHOULD NOT DO

• Be dismissive 9
• Be negative 7
• Be unprepared 5
• Be inattentive 3
• Criticise 3
• Talk too much 2
• Do students work 2
• Make assumptions 1
• Be dishonest 1
• responses from student tutor applicants 33

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MISTAKES

• Lack of knowledge (eg credit system) 1
• Time management 4
• In class
• Own availability
• Inappropriate approach in tutorials 5
• Lecturing rather than facilitating
• showing off
• Acting devils advocate
• Becoming exasperated
• Making assumptions 5
• They shared my motivation
• Underestimated support requirements
• Overcome insecurities
• Ready for independence
• 15

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QUESTIONS

• What is the role of the Student Tutor?
• How do Student Tutors perceive their role?
• What makes a good Student Tutor?
• When they reflect on the role, what lessons have
  they learned?
• How are Student Tutors selected?
• What influence has student tutoring had on the
  Student Tutors themselves?

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HOW SELECTED?

• NOTICES AROUND UNIVERSITY
• APPLICATION FORM
• Personal details
• Reason for application
• GROUP INTERVIEW SESSION
• Teaching staff and experienced Student Tutors
• Interactive explanation of Module
• Thoughtful contributions
• Clear communication
• Ideas
• SMALL GROUPS
• Experienced Student Tutors
• BRIEFING SESSIONS

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PERSONAL BENEFITS OF STUDENT TUTORING

• Enhances communication skills
• Boosts self-confidence
• Encourages reflection
• Encourages understanding / empathy
• Provides more holistic view of higher education
• Provides opportunity to learn about self

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SUMMING IT UP IN STUDENT TUTORS WORDS

• Be prepared to be mentally exhausted at the end
  of each class and share in the fun and enjoyment
  and the achievements of the students
• Enjoy yourself - the experience is worth it
  (and I am not just talking about the money!!)

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THEY SAY IT SO WELL

• Most students when they start are pretty
  overawed Uni looks scary and is largely an
  unknown quantity. Theres a whole other
  vocabulary to get used to examination diets,
  matriculation numbers, dissertations, educational
  guidance advisors, Harvard referencing etc, etc.
  If these can be explained in words of two
  syllables or less, things feel much less fraught

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A FINAL COMMENT

• Student Tutors need to have the right attitude,
  be good listeners, helpful, friendly and have the
  wellbeing of the students foremost in their mind