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Teaching Innovation for the 21st Century | Showcasing UJ Teaching and Learning 2021
Level 3 tutor training
Synchronous online training on Blackboard Collaborate
It should be noted that the topics for level 3 training change every year. This is to ensure that tutors at this level continue to develop and learn new skills.
Topics covered in 2021 included:
The focus in this training is on the mentoring role of the experienced tutor and the senior tutor. Training provides the space for tutors to reflect on the role that they play as mentors and extends the role to include students and fellow tutors. This training allows tutors to futher hone their tutoring skills and to reflect on how they have adapted their face-to-face tutoring strategies to online strategies
Conclusion
Tutors are increasingly seen as vital partners in facilitating learning in higher education. Well developed tutorial programmes provide the ideal opportunity for students to be actively engaged in the teaching and learning process. As academics and academic development practitioners, we need to remember that a shift to an online environment does not lessen the value and role that tutors play in facilitating student learning. Tutors are still responsible for creating engaging spaces which facilitate student learning. The challenge is to be able to design training that is flexible, student-centred, actively engages participants and is underpinned by sound pedagogy (Koch, Ramjan, Everett, Maceri, Bell & Salamonson 2020). Finally, irrespective of the model of tutoring, tutors will remain ineffective without training that is responsive to the changing higher education landscape and that equips them with the skills necessary to facilitate student learning (De Smet, Van Keer, De Wever & Valcke 2010).
• Clarifying the role of the senior tutor and experienced tutor
• Assessing and changing study behaviour
• Cognitive scaffolding
Online training programme on BB
Level 3 tutors review and reflect on their level 1 and 2 tutor training by completing an activity relating to the Tutor Lingo videos. In 2021, the topics included how to tutor target populations and the role of tutoring in higher education.
Tutors are valued and recognised at UJ as tutors are awarded a certificate which is internationally accredited by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) once they have successfully completed a training level.