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Unit Introduction
Unit Introduction
Review the brief introduction on the unit's content to prepare yourself for the material found within this page.
Overview
In order to better understand the significance of structuring and modifying the learning environment, we will look at tutoring from the perspective of the Theory of Customized or Personalized Learning. In particular, this section focuses on the Theory of Customized Learning and its relationship to tutoring. This unit looks at a systematic process connected to the Theory of Customized Learning that can assist tutors throughout all stages of a tutoring session. Also, please view the reading articles and complete the activities within this page before moving onto the next step.
Tutoring Benefits
- Review the Theory of Customized or Personalized Learning.
- Learn why the customizing a tutoring session can assist learners.
- Review the "Access, Monitor, Method, Assist" approach for modifying a learning environment.
- Demonstrate how to use the "Access, Monitor, Method, Assist" approach within a tutoring session.
Educational Theory & Key Concepts
Educational Theory & Key Concepts
Read the key concepts on the Theory of Customized/Personalized Learning.
The Personalized or Customized Learning Theory refers to efforts to modify methods to meet the different needs of learners. According to Kallio (2015), regular meetings between educators and students where they talk about learning progress, process, and/or products is a method to provide more personalized feedback. Tutoring follows this suit, allowing tutors to meet individually with learners to work through their unique needs.
How does Personalized Learning Theory Work?
A tutoring session requires constant structuring through modifications, whether small or large, to create a learning environment that is most conducive for optimal learning. Learners are different, and a method that might work for one student, often times won't work for another. Hence, tutors must modify their tutoring to best assist learners.
Why is it Important?
If learners needs are met, they will, more than likely, not be motivated to learn or get through their material. Motivation is a huge part of learning, whether in a classroom or in a tutoring session (Blerkom, 2009). Structuring a tutoring session to meet students needs can assist in student motivation and provide more fruitful, productive, and engaging sessions.
Application
Application
Review the tutoring methods and see how it can be utilize to modify the learning environment within a tutoring session.
Assess-Monitor-Method-Assist Process
Assess-Monitor-Method-Assist Process
The "Access, Monitor, Method, Assist" method is one way to apply tutoring methods within a session. The order of these actions are flexible and can adjust based on your discernment of a students' needs.
Although, it should be clear that a tutoring session requires constant structuring through modifications. Hence, you may jump back and forth between these 4 various strategies to best assist your student.
How Does it Work?
Using the process systematically will provide you will the information you need to modify or customize a learning environment. This 4-step process is a culmination of the methods you've learned within the previous units. Going through each of the steps within this process will allow you to not only assess the learner needs, and utilize the ask questions to determine the progress of the session, but it will also allow you to determine an optimal path to take during any given tutoring session.
Assess
Assess
The assess stage is synonymous with assessing the learner needs, covered in Unit 2.
- During this step, you're trying to figure out where the student is having trouble.
- Remember, when identifying learner needs, you should utilize the 3-step (discover, validate, and classify) at the beginning of any tutoring session.
Monitor
Monitor
After you have assessed the learner needs, and begin working on areas the student is struggling with, the next step is to monitor the student. To do so, you must first listen and observe and then prompt the student using questions, covered in Unit 3.
- During this step, you're trying to guide the student with questions, using the Socratic Method of Questioning. Consider asking questions like: what the student knows or problem areas for the student.
- While a student is working through a problem, draft, or other learning activity, listen to what the student is saying and observe his or her body language. Students can give a lot of signals both verbal and non-verbal that a tutor should understand. A student slouching and looking down might need a different approach compared to a rigid student.
Use Method
Use Method
After you have assessed the student needs and monitored the student's verbal and non-verbal information, the next step is to utilize tutoring methods to appropriately modify the learning environment, covered in Unit 4.
- During this step, you're trying to determine the best tutoring approach to take to enhance the experience of the student.
- After guiding the student with questions and identifying his or her verbal and non-verbal communication, the next step is to choose a tutoring approach. To decide which approach to use, refer to the following exampls:
- Does the student need some encouragement in his or her ability to get through an assignment? If so, consider using the Ally method.
- Is the student is wanting exam prep help or wanting to know if his or her understanding is correct? If so, consider using the Learner method.
- Does the student need help looking at the bigger picture of a concept, problem, or issue? If so, consider using the Commentator method.
Assist
Assist
After you have decided on a tutoring method to utilize, work on implementing the method into the session to structure the learning environment. Assisting will look different for different students:
- You might be called upon to scaffold information for the student and implement activities like: modeling, breaking problems into smaller tasks, or sharing your own tips, as covered in Unit 1.
- You might be called upon to be more of an active listener and focus on being an audience for a student who needs to just talk out his or her ideas to you.
- You might be called upon to provide encouragement and offer a gentle approach to a tutoring session through offering feedback or suggestions.
The assisting stage can encompass a variety of different tutoring tools, methods, and strategies. It's essentially the stage where you're "doing" something. This "doing" can come in the form of listening, assigning a project to the student, or modeling a problem, etc.
A look at using the "Assess-Monitor-Method-Assist" Process
A look at using the "Assess-Monitor-Method-Assist" Process
Tutoring Scenario using the 4-Step Process Theory
Tutoring Scenario using the 4-Step Process Theory
Best Practices
Best Practices
Read articles on tutoring and the Theory of Customized Learning.
Optional reading; although, it's very informative. Consider skimming through it.
- Unique Learners & Personalized Learning (note: though focused on teaching, I feel there are many aspects apropos to customizing learning environment in tutoring)
Unit Activity
Unit Activity
Complete this activity on ways using tutoring methods to customize the learning environment within a tutoring session.
Unit Quiz
Unit Quiz
Complete this short quiz on the material within Unit 5.
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