The challenges and headaches of tutoring college students in prisons are ample, but the joys of witnessing the academic benefits are precious. One tutor views his tutoring sessions much like a counselor would approach a therapeutic session with his/her client. The interaction is divided into 3 phases: assessment, intervention, and termination. The…

In this study, the Bystander Turing Test (BTT) paradigm is used to determine whether participants rate particular dialog moves in tutoring transcripts to be generated by a computer tutor, AutoTutor, or by a skilled human tutor. Currently, AutoTutor initiates a conversation with the learner by posing a question or presenting a problem for the…

This guide examines the effect of learning disorders on the writing process and gives practical advice to writing teachers, lab tutors, tutors in private practice, learning specialists, and other professionals who regularly meet student writers with learning disorders. The guide also suggests ways writers with learning disorders can write more…

This paper describes how Northeastern Illinois University employs undergraduate and graduate students as America Reads Tutors to work in the Chicago Public Schools. The paper begins with an overview of the governmental legislation, followed by a description of how the university is meeting the challenge of assisting elementary students to improve…

This guide discusses preparing volunteer tutors for success in educational environments and describes the startup year of these programs. Research and experience in the field suggest that a good beginning is key to the long-term survival of new programs. The startup year is the most challenging. It requires leadership to muster the energy and…

Rejects the notion that peer tutors must have well-developed interpersonal skills and suggests instead that their knowledge of and facility with the composing process is a far more important attribute for effective peer tutors. (AEA)

For a peer tutoring strategy, procedures for the selection of tutors and tutees, the matching of tutors and tutees, and the training of tutors are discussed. Practical information to assist classroom teachers contemplating the development of a peer tutoring program is provided. (NEC)

A peer tutoring system in which students from the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London University, tutored Electrical Engineering students from the Pimlico Comprehensive School is described including the evaluations of the programs by the participants. (JMF)

The reliability of grades on tutor-marked assignments was studied as background for debate on changing examination and assessment policy at the Open University. Results indicate that essay questions present the greatest reliability problems. (JMF)

Students from Drexel University (n=15) spent three weeks training and seven weeks serving as volunteer literacy tutors in learners' neighborhoods in the Literacy Training and Participation Program. Compared to an earlier study in a campus setting, there were no differences in academic achievement or quality of life outcomes. (JOW)

Discusses a hierarchy of concerns tutors can use in working with ESL writers. Suggests that the student's understanding of the assignment, development of a thesis, logical organization, and fully developed ideas all supplant minor issues, such as improper use of the definite article or subject/verb agreement. (NB)

Discusses the role of the historian and the purposes of history teaching. Stresses teaching methods and outlines six ways to enhance instruction for beginning teachers. Analyzes curriculum and raises objections to the concept of a core curriculum and emphasizes the importance of studying history. (RW)

The realities of child development defy efforts to categorize children's abilities and attainments within the conventional graded structure. Pupil readiness varies, and children progress in all subjects at different rates. The development of multiage or cross-age groupings, sometimes coordinated with youngsters in tutoring programs, has produced…

In Japan, after-school schools prepare students for admittance to "right" colleges. Japanese families spend about $240/month per child for supplementary instruction five days a week and half-days on Sunday. Cram-school teacher salaries range from abysmal to over $400,000 a year. Only few universities are considered first-rate by…

A University of Limburg (Netherlands) study investigated influence of health sciences tutors' subject-matter expertise on the achievement of 1,800 students participating in tutorial groups with leaders having varying levels of subject expertise. Results indicated a positive influence of tutor subject expertise, particularly in interaction with…