As discussed in the previous module, part of facilitating successful labs and tutorials is setting the tone of the learning environment.

As a student/past student yourself, you will remember aspects of your study that you enjoyed and didn't enjoy, including ways that teaching staff supported or possibility didn't support your learning.

Your teaching style will naturally evolve and develop as you make the transition from student to teacher. This is a gradual and iterative process which will take time. Your confidence should grow as your experience does.

The following tasks will help you consider how you might put what you have learned about good tutoring into practice, and what type of tutor you would like to be.

Task: Becoming a Confident Tutor

Estimated time: 5 mins

In the video below, students discuss what makes an effective tutor. Watch the video and complete the reflective task.

Note: This setting is a lab environment, however the student viewpoints apply to a range of settings.

Workshop preparation: Reflect on yourself as a tutor

Thinking about the video above, and your own experience as a student, consider the following questions and how this will impact on the way you facilitate/run your sessions. For your new tutoring role …

1. Name one aspect you are most confident about?

2. Name one aspect that makes you nervous or insecure?

Write down your answers to the above questions, using one of the following templates to help: pdf, docx. You should refer back to Module 1, Reflect on your Values and How we teach, to support you with this task. Consider your personal values. Where do they match with the values in the University's Code of Conduct? Are there additional values you hold that may guide how you teach and interact with your students?

Throughout the training, we'll be looking at our values and how they can guide us as tutors. Be prepared to discuss this in the in-person training session.

Please write at least one idea per question and try to write these using one or two words only.

E.g.

Strength = Loud voice, friendly
Challenge = noise, using projectors

Please bring your answers with you to the in-person session

Video source: Faculty of Science: Teaching in Labs: Professionals - Student viewpoints: What we like in a Lab Teacher. Retrieved from: Teaching in Labs