• So, you've got a job as a tutor...

    In this section we want you to think about your new role as a tutor, and how you are going to impart your knowledge to a group of students.

    It is a privilege to be chosen to teach and one you should not take lightly. We want to support you in every way we can.

    • Slightly quirky video URL

      Adult learning in under three minutes

    • RocksTo have got this far you must be good at what you do.

      Tai Poutini Polytechnic offers a wide variety of programmes all over the country and you must be a specialist in one of those topics to have been employed as a tutor.

      But, having knowledge in a certain area and being able to impart that knowledge are two quite different things. It is our intention, over the next eight sessions, to help you combine your expertise, with an ability to pass on that knowledge to adult learners.

      Why do you want to teach?

      There is an old saying, "those who can do, those who can't teach"... It may sound a bit harsh but in some cases people fall into teaching or tutoring when they can no longer handle the day-to-day rigour of their jobs.

      Others want to "give something back" and that is very worthy.

      And some people just love being with others, they love to communicate and show people what to do and how - they are natural teachers.

      Before you step into a classroom it is a good idea to think about why you are taking up teaching. Even better write it down and put it away somewhere. There will be days when you wonder what on earth made you venture into tertiary education. Get that piece of paper out and read it - hopefully you will be inspired to go on.

      Who are your students? What is their motivation for being there?

      KitchenTai Poutini Polytechnic has such a diverse range of programmes, sites and students that you may be a new tutor in the industrial area, or you could be standing in front of a classroom full of would-be business administrators.

      It is likely they are a mix of old and young; some will be women in a male oriented trade; some fresh from school; and others may have had a bad experience at school.

      Taking time to find out more about each other at the start of your teaching time together pays dividends later on. Peoples’ backgrounds shape who they are. You will get those who like to talk a lot; others like to argue and debate; some like to concentrate really hard; of course some like to be smart; and some simply like to learn.

      Your challenge is to balance all of these. So, take some time to get to know them, and let them get to know each other - peer pressure can be a powerful thing in a class when things go pear-shaped!

      What do you want to achieve and how?

      Tutoring is by no means an endless path of learning on which you and your students meander off in various directions with no real aim.
      The course/s you are teaching have learning outcomes. Your job is deliver to these and have a clear plan on how you are going to do this.
      Getting sidetracked to chat about last night's television programmes, your old job in "the trade" or anything else is merely a distraction to real learning. Watch for the students who lead you up a garden path of anecdotes and “war stories” to distract you from the real business of the day.
      We will talk later about lesson plans, course outlines and how to manage a class without seeming too heavy handed.

      What don’t you know and how will you find out?

      One of the biggest issues for new tutors is they "don't know what they don't know".
      If you have not been buddied up with a mentor ask for one. You need someone with knowledge of the institution and tertiary teaching to help you with those nagging questions and self doubts.
      TPP has several handbooks which you can consult, there is a lot of information on the Intranet, and the Quality Management System, known as the "QMS" is available for all staff to access and easy to search.

    • This is an award winning video on learning

      You probably may identify with some of the characters. There is serious underlying theory behind this, called "constructive alignment"
      From the blurb: "The film delivers a foundation for understanding what a teacher needs to do in order to make sure all types of students actually learn what the teacher intends"
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