Background:
I remember taking my first Economics class at Dartmouth and being terrified. I had heard rumors of the difficulty of the class even for students with prior Economics experience. As a low-income Latina, I was nervous I would not have the resources to succeed in the class. The learning curve was steep. I remember thinking how much easier it would be if I had a mentor or someone to guide me through the course.
In high school, I got exposed to tutoring. Every Wednesday, the math organization at my high school, Mu Alpha Theta, hosted math tutoring sessions for an hour after school. I attended several of those sessions, and that is where I discovered I had a passion for teaching and learning alongside other students.
Positives:
As soon as I started tutoring, I noticed that reviewing the material prior to each tutoring session reinforces your knowledge of the material. You forget a lot of important concepts when you don’t use them every day. This has been helpful in solidifying knowledge for other Economics classes as well. Group Tutoring exposes you to different learning styles and ways of thinking. The spark that ignites in a tutee after they understand a concept they had trouble with is such a privilege to watch. It keeps me coming back week after week.
The community aspect of Group Tutoring separates it from individual tutoring. The participation of other students allows for collaboration and learning opportunities that would be missed in Individual Tutoring. My favorite part of group tutoring is the relationships that form between the tutors and the tutees. The dynamic evolves from the first week of tutoring to the end of Group Tutoring. At the beginning, the environment is a little awkward as people get to know each other. Over time, tutees begin to engage and ask lots of questions about the course. I love to see tutees jumping in and answering their peer’s questions.
I love helping people that have undergone similar struggles or have struggled with similar material in a class. It’s encouraging to be able to make their lives a little easier or to make them feel more understood and heard.
Challenges:
My first time tutoring at Dartmouth was 21W, right in the middle of the pandemic. I was intimidated by the virtual component of tutoring at first. I didn’t want my tutees to experience the awkwardness that often comes with being on Zoom especially when you don’t know anyone. The social cues you pick up in normal conversation are harder to notice through a virtual platform. Thankfully, the Academic Skills Center supplied me with a Zoom guide, which made it easier for me to practice my Zoom skills prior to my first tutoring session. It’s different being on the other side of Zoom as a host.
I would also advise working with the professor who is teaching the course. It might be helpful if you ask for access to Canvas so you can see what your tutees are learning that particular week. It has been helpful for me to look over the problem sets and exercises ahead of time. It allows me to familiarize myself with the questions before my tutees ask me questions about them.
Concluding thoughts:
My overall experience has been so rewarding. I’ve had the chance to connect with more of my peers and provide support. If you are considering being a group tutor, I would encourage you to apply. You could make a huge impact on a peer’s academic experience.