Teaching Methods

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VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Tutoring sessions should be a free exchange between tutor and student. Tutor should refrain from giving answers. Methods might include: Open-ended questions
 * Explanation
 * Questions and answers
 * Demonstrations
 * Discussion
 * Tape recording

VISUAL COMMUNICATION
Tutors should enhance their lesson by using various visual aids. These might include:
 * Pictures
 * Whiteboard
 * Models
 * Video
 * Overheads
 * Maps
 * Flash cards

VARYING CONTENT
Tutoring sessions often will deal with an assortment of topics, problems, questions and concepts. To help interest, various methods should be employed by the tutor. These may include:
 * Subject change
 * Major topic to sub-topic
 * Specific to general (inductive)
 * General to specific (deductive)
 * Related learning

VARYING WORK INTENSITY PATTERNS
To help the student maintain concentration the tutor should:
 * Take breaks
 * Change pace of learning

OTHER METHODS OF EXPLAINING CONTENT

 * Redirection – try another way
 * Clarification – make the subject easier for the student to understand
 * Reflection – give the student a chance to think about the subject
 * Refocusing – go over same material but with a different approach
 * Prompting – asking leading questions

USE OF REINFORCEMENT
Reinforcement is an important process in developing positive behavioural patterns. A reinforcement should be given directly after the correct response. Some tips on reinforcement:
 * Give verbal praise
 * Vary praise
 * Vary amount of praise
 * Vary voice intonation
 * Fade reinforcement – give reinforcement initially after correct responses, fade or give praise after student has given several correct answers.

ADDITIONAL POINTS FOR TUTOR TO NOTE
Tutors, at times, might need to be aware of other areas in the student’s life that may be affecting their study, for example: If needed, these can be discussed with the Learning Support tutors.
 * Literacy or numeracy problems
 * Student stress-Keep in mind that there are degrees of stress such as death in the family is different from dad being angry.--Katherine Bolman 21:29, 15 December 2009 (UTC)
 * Note-taking
 * Study habits
 * Test taking skills
 * Other related problems.

Also see: Alternative Teaching methods--Phil Bartle 11:24, 14 December 2009 (UTC)