Drop-in peer tutoring is the most popular model on college campuses, but a high student-tutor ratio suggests that students will spend the majority of their lab time working without the aid of a tutor. This study observed students in a drop-in tutoring center serving developmental math students and explored what they do in that independent time.…

Advocates grounding a tutor training program in research-based theoretical models, such as student development and metacognitive theories. Recommends that tutor training cover student development philosophy, effective communication skills, campus resources, instructional support materials, learning theory/learning styles, metacognitive approaches…

Describes a study of tutors' experiences with small groups, offering findings from interviews with 37 tutors from 3 colleges as they relate to existing group dynamics research. Discusses tutor and tutee roles, group cohesion, identification of students' needs, development of a workable plan and timeline, jumpstarting, and floor management. Details…

Reviews studies of psychosocial variables that maximize outcomes in peer tutoring programs. Considers research on tutoring behaviors and their relation to outcomes; effective tutorial instruction methods; expectations and attributions in tutoring settings; tutorial roles and student pairings; and cooperative learning formats. Makes recommendations…

Analyzes factors internal to the tutor and tutee (i.e., cognition, metacognition, and affect) and external to them (e.g., teacher/tutor background knowledge, educational environment, content to be learned, socioeconomic status, family background, and cultural forces) that influence the tutoring process. Suggests a theoretical framework for…

Reviews factors affecting the tutoring process, including students' expectations of tutors; equitable tutor-tutee relations; and tutor gender. Considers ways tutoring can capitalize on peer relationships and reasons that students earn higher grades with a same-sex tutor. Suggests that tutor training address cultural sex stereotypes, ethnic…