the tutoring cycle from ross macdonald’s the master tutor: a guidebook for more effective tutoring

The Tutoring Cycle

from Ross MacDonald’s The Master Tutor: A Guidebook for More Effective Tutoring

Providing Academic Support, Promoting Independent Learning

Make future plans and bidclient farewell

The Tutoring Cycle

Step I: Beginning Step II: Middle Step III: Conclusion

1.Greeting and Climate Setting2.Identification of Task3.Breaking the Task into Parts4.Identifying Thought Processes that

Underlie the Task

5.Setting an Agenda for the Session6.Addressing the Task7.Client Summary of Content8.Client Summary of Underlying

Process

9.Confirmation10.What Next?11.Arranging and Planning the

Next Session12.Closing and Goodbye

Greet client and determinepurpose of visit

Set agenda, tutor, andcheck for understanding


Step 5: Setting an Agenda for the Session Purpose: Accomplish the task efficiently in

the time available Methods:

Give client a hand in shaping agenda (e.g., “Well, we have 25 minutes; how shall we use them?”)

Be explicit about how long to spend on what Be flexible if you need less or more time on a

particular item

Step I:Beginning

Step II:Middle

Step III:Conclusion

5. Setting an Agenda for the Session

6. Addressing the Task

7. Client Summary of Content

8. Client Summary of Underlying Process


Step 6: Addressing the Task

Purpose: Conduct the business of tutoring

Methods:Ask questionsActively listenHelp client find information in course

materials (rather than from you)Explain occasionally to keep tutorial

moving along

Step I:Beginning

Step II:Middle

Step III:Conclusion






Step 7: Client Summary of Content Purpose: Determine results—what/how

much of the content client understands Methods:

Look/listen for “the light bulb effect” (e.g., “Oh, I get it now!”)

Ask client to explain what he/she now understands from the tutorial

Evaluate accuracy of client’s summary Review areas of misunderstanding or

“shallow” understanding• Prompt him/her• Redirect him/her to course materials

Step I:Beginning

Step II:Middle

Step III:Conclusion






Step 8: Client Summary of Underlying Process Purpose: Determine results—what/how

much of the process client understands Methods:

Ask client to explain the process (e.g., “If a friend asked you how to write this paper, what would you say?” or “How will you prewrite for a similar paper in the future?”)

Evaluate accuracy of client’s summary Review areas of misunderstanding or

“shallow” understanding• Prompt him/her• Redirect him/her to course materials

Step I:Beginning

Step II:Middle

Step III:Conclusion






Steps 5-8: Summary

Why is “Do you understand?” not a good way to determine what/how much the client now understands?

How much time should you spend silently reading during Step 6?

Why is Step 8 (Client Summary of Underlying Process) so important? [Consider the message in the footer of each slide.]

Step I:Beginning

Step II:Middle

Step III:Conclusion






Steps 5-8: Summary

How do these steps rely upon your having done Steps 1-4 well?

1. Greeting and Climate Setting

2. Identification of Task

3. Breaking the Task into Parts

4. Identifying Thought Processes that Underlie the Task

Keep in mind how these steps (5-8) set you up for success with the next steps in the tutoring cycle . . .

Step I:Beginning

Step II:Middle

Step III:Conclusion





the tutoring cycle from ross macdonald’s the master tutor: a guidebook for more effective tutoring

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