The Role-Taking Experiences of College Peer Tutors

Many post-secondary institutions rely on under-graduate peer tutors to provide academic assistance to their students. While several studies have been done on the outcomes of tutoring, little research has focused on the impact on college tutors of taking on a new helping role. Consequently, few books exist to guide the directors of college learning centers in setting up tutor training programs that result in competent tutors and in personal, cognitive and ethical growth for the tutors. This book recounts the experiences of nine tutors enrolled in a Tutor Development course and examines the changes in their thinking about tutoring and their tutoring behaviors, as well as their cognitive and ethical growth. Through case studies, the author delves into the tutors experience to explore what happened in their experience to impact growth. The lessons learned from the authors study have implications for professionals who train college tutors in any discipline. In addition, the book suggests a framework for designing tutor development classes to promote tutors growth.