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

2. The Tutoring Cycle Step I: Beginning Step II: Middle
Greet client and determine
purpose of visit
Step I: Beginning
Step II: Middle
Step III: Conclusion
Set agenda, tutor, and
check for understanding
Greeting and Climate Setting
Identification of Task
Breaking the Task into Parts
Identifying Thought Processes that Underlie the Task
Make future plans and bid
client farewell
Setting an Agenda for the Session
Addressing the Task
Client Summary of Content
Client Summary of Underlying Process
Confirmation
What Next?
Arranging and Planning the Next Session
Closing and Goodbye
Providing Academic Support, Promoting Independent Learning

3. Step 5: Setting an Agenda for the Session
Step I:
Beginning
Step II:
Middle
Step III:
Conclusion
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
Setting an Agenda for the Session
Addressing the Task
Client Summary of Content
Client Summary of Underlying Process
Providing Academic Support, Promoting Independent Learning

4. Step 6: Addressing the Task
Step I:
Beginning
Step II:
Middle
Step III:
Conclusion
Purpose: Conduct the business of tutoring
Methods:
Ask questions
Actively listen
Help client find information in course materials (rather than from you)
Explain occasionally to keep tutorial moving along
Setting an Agenda for the Session
Addressing the Task
Client Summary of Content
Client Summary of Underlying Process
Providing Academic Support, Promoting Independent Learning

5. Step 7: Client Summary of Content
Step I:
Beginning
Step II:
Middle
Step III:
Conclusion
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
Setting an Agenda for the Session
Addressing the Task
Client Summary of Content
Client Summary of Underlying Process
Providing Academic Support, Promoting Independent Learning

6. Step 8: Client Summary of Underlying Process
Step I:
Beginning
Step II:
Middle
Step III:
Conclusion
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
Setting an Agenda for the Session
Addressing the Task
Client Summary of Content
Client Summary of Underlying Process
Providing Academic Support, Promoting Independent Learning

7. Providing Academic Support, Promoting Independent Learning
Steps 5-8: Summary
Step I:
Beginning
Step II:
Middle
Step III:
Conclusion
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.]
Setting an Agenda for the Session
Addressing the Task
Client Summary of Content
Client Summary of Underlying Process
Providing Academic Support, Promoting Independent Learning

8. Providing Academic Support, Promoting Independent Learning
Steps 5-8: Summary
Step I:
Beginning
Step II:
Middle
Step III:
Conclusion
How do these steps rely upon your having done Steps 1-4 well?
Greeting and Climate Setting
Identification of Task
Breaking the Task into Parts
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 . . .
Setting an Agenda for the Session
Addressing the Task
Client Summary of Content
Client Summary of Underlying Process
Providing Academic Support, Promoting Independent Learning