Index
Psychology Peer Assisted Tutorial Support (PPATS)
Sorry – PPATS is not recruiting mentors for 2011.
Recruitment will re-commence in 2012.
What if I don't have the knowledge to be a peer tutor?
How much time do I need to commit to the program?
Read what the peer tutors and their students said about the process in 2008
Why peer tutoring?
Beginning University is a period of adjustment. If you think back to your first year you can probably recall some stress associated with starting University as well as more specific concerns about meeting the requirements of assessment tasks. Remember doing your first lab report? For most students the first lab report is associated with a steep learning curve.
Although lecturers and tutors do their best to help first year students with the social and academic adjustments required in first year, our own research suggests that peer tutoring programs are often more successful.
What does a PPATS tutor do?
Peer tutors will work with small groups of approximately 5 first year students. Peer tutors will attend part of the students’ tutorials and work with their small group on a series of structured exercises that help students with issues. These issues include plagiarism, APA style, using resources, planning and writing essays. Your students will also find it useful to hear about how you negotiated your first year of University, including things like how many hours of homework to do, where to eat, how to locate information in the library, etc.
What if I don’t have the knowledge to be a peer tutor?
First, you probably know more than you think!
Second, we will train you. Training will take place in early March. In this workshop we will cover issues such the roles and responsibilities of peer tutors. In addition, we will discuss the structured activities for your peer tutoring meetings. However, it is important to note that you are not expected to an expert; the regular tutor will be present during your peer tutoring meetings and be available to answer questions. Your job is help the students in your small group work out what their questions are and how to find their own solutions. An important component of peer tutoring is facilitating a friendly, welcoming atmosphere in which the students feel comfortable.
Third, we will provide ongoing support for you and your peer tutor colleagues during the semester. We will provide regular face-to-face debriefing sessions for peer tutors to discuss issues that rise. You will not be on your own.
How much time do I need to commit to the program?
We are asking for one hour/week for 8 weeks in first semester plus time to prepare and reflect on your experiences. First year tutorials will run on Tuesdays.
What’s in it for me?
- Formal recognition is offered in the form of a LEAD certificate, verifying your participation as a peer tutor and acknowledgement on your academic transcript.
- Many peer tutors find the experience intrinsically rewarding and enjoy the process of giving back to students in their program, however, there are certainly tangible advantages to peer tutoring.
- Helping other students work on their labs and essays will inevitably strengthen your own work.
- You will enhance your interpersonal and group work skills.
- Participation in PPATS will be a useful experience to include on your CV and on applications for graduate study in Psychology.
We hope you will be interested in this opportunity to develop your own academic, interpersonal and group work skills and feel sure that first years will benefit from your involvement. We look forward to working with you in 2009.
Read what the peer tutors and their students said about the process in 2008
We asked the peer tutors in 2008 what they got out of participating in PPATS. Here are some of their responses:
Peer Tutors
Being able to help other students solve some issues that I had already dealt with during first year.
Ability to reflect on and impart study/ essay/ lab report knowledge and skills to others.
Being able to produce my input to those who are in need. The ability to guide the first years into understanding the ropes of psychology undergrad and writing and coping with uni lifestyle.
Being able to (maybe) help out the first years. I was pretty overwhelmed by the mystical beast the “lab report” in first year so it was good to help them with it and give them tips for understanding, etc.
Meeting and helping less experienced students with aspects of their course ad uni life they wouldn’t otherwise get from anyone else.
Helped me with writing labs- by explaining it to someone else improved my understanding.
It really helped to consolidate my learning…
Improved my writing style, reinforcement of knowledge and study skills, and increased confidence.
The students they worked with said:
Mentors gave a great insight into their first year experiences, giving us advice on what they had found difficult and how they overcame it. I found this to be particularly important and helpful.
I found the mentor’s help with assignments really useful- it was good to bounce ideas off and get feedback from people with experience.
The opportunity to interact with other students (both mentors and peers) in a supportive environment.
It was beneficial to be able to discuss concerns and issues relating to the course with them.
For more information contact
Andrea Chester (First Year Coordinator)
Phone: (03) 9925 3150
Location: City Campus: Building 6, Level 5, Room 7
Email: andrea.chester@rmit.edu.au
Sophia Xenos (Third Year Coordinator)
Phone: (03) 9925 1081
Location: City Campus: Building 6, Level 5, Room 13
Email: sophia.xenos@rmit.edu.au