Tutor Tips

Learning How to Learn

In order for students to master new information, they must first learn how to learn. Tutors play a critical role in helping students develop effective learning strategies. Tutors accomplish this in many ways:

1. Identify step-by-step instructions that explain how to solve a problem.

2. Model how to approach a problem: “I find it helpful to …..” “While reading, you might find it helpful to ….”

3. Ask a series of scaffolding questions which build to the solution.

Here are some other learning strategies that you might wish to share with students:

conversation, recitation
writing to learn
outlines (organizing, differentiating, and categorizing)
visual representations (drawings, charts, graphs, etc.)
note cards, models, flash cards
tape recorders
computer-assisted study
textbook reading strategies, such as SQ3R
lecture note-taking strategies, such as Cornell Notes
test-taking tips
lecture review and office hours tips
forming study groups
accessing previous knowledge
Critical thinking : classify, compare/contrast, evaluate, define, exemplify, amplify, and/or critique information.
changing study environments
Time management
predicting test questions
vocabulary lists
reward system
healthy lifestyle