Tips for Choosing a Tutor

Just because a pupil is being tutored in science, this does not assure that this subject is being understood. It is required that each and every pupil receiving tutoring be gauged constantly to measure the level of comprehension of the subject (at the beginning of every tutoring session is a good place to start). Make sure your tutor isn’t simply jumping into the middle of a lesson. An example of starting at the basics would be:

Your child is starting with cell biology. An assignment requires that the student write down the components of a cell. If it was gone over during a previous week, the starting point of the tutor should be something like, “What is a cell?”

The tutor should not begin with, “Write down the organelles of a cell.” This is ‘jumping straight in’ instead of easing into the topic.

Other ways the tutor should be gauging comprehension are:

• Mastery of scientific terminology – rote memorisation (a memorisation technique based on repetition, that is learning the terminology, being able to recall the information, if not, learn it again until you know the meaning of all terminology, stated in your own words)
• Requiring summarisation – can the student start at the beginning and describe an entire process e.g. describing mitosis
• Quiz the student – without the stress of a “grade”, the student can perform at their level and show the online tutor where additional help is needed
• Turn the tables – have the student become the tutor. The tutor can require the student to “teach” the subject to them
• The tutor should ask the simple question, “Do you understand?” often. This is the best way to gauge comprehension, as with tutoring there is no pressure of “saving face” in front of peers by automatically saying “yes”.
• Probing questions should be asked by the tutor often, as well, to keep the student’s mind working instead of growing bored with “yes” and “no” questions.

No matter what the method of tutoring, whether it is face-to-face tutoring or live online tutoring, positive reinforcement for a job well done is in order. All tutors need to make sure to point out student successes as well as difficulties. When only mistakes are noticed, it can undermine the student’s self-esteem and create an environment where the student shuts down and does not try anymore.

When using face-to-face tutoring, positive reinforcement is easier to achieve. Nonverbal facial expressions and body language, like smiles or high fives, can really give a student a feeling of accomplishment.

When using online tutoring, positive reinforcement can be trickier. The only real way the tutor can show approval and give rewards is through an online format. Since only verbal reinforcement can be given online, the student may get bored with the standard, “Good Job!”, “That looks great!”, or “I’m so proud of the hard work you’ve done today.”

If you go with an online tutoring system, be sure that the tutors attempt to use a variety of reinforcement techniques, like:

• Verbal – the standards listed above
• Printable certificates of achievement – this will give the students something physical to print off their computer and keep

These sorts of added rewards can keep the student motivated to do more. If the tutor you hire does not provide these types of reinforcement techniques, you may want to request that they start.

Your parent, or if you are a parent, you have the ultimate responsibility to make sure the tutoring service you hire is following these techniques. Your parent should sit with you while being tutored several times to see if the tutor is an effective teacher (that way you as a pupil do not have to tell the tutor that they are not doing the best job).