Academic Peer Instruction: Benefits to Its Tutors

Academic Peer Instruction: Benefits to Its Tutors

Edward Bagley

API Assistant Coordinator

Dr. Svetoslav Zahariev

API Coordinator

Dr. Andi Toce

API Coordinator

Dr. Joyce Zaritsky

API Founder and Advisor

Conclusion

A Tutor's Journey

Cindy attends two full days of training prior to the semester

She applies,

provides references,

gets an interview and is hired for the upcoming semester.

API

Meet Cindy!

• API provides benefits to both students and tutors.
• Gains to tutors are often overlooked.

Cindy is a LaGuardia student that has taken some key courses toward her major and has done quite well.

Cindy learns about API

She provides 3-5 hours of group tutoring each week

She meets each week with all API tutors and supervisors to share her experience and continue training

Cindy audits the targeted class and takes notes

On the first week of classes Cindy introduces herself and the API to her class.

Hello

She prepares a study plan and keeps detailed records of each session.

A Survey

A short survey was sent to all API tutors

• 1993 - 2004, 48 responses
• 2004 - 2008, 19 responses
• 2009 - 2012, 33 responses

Question 5: How important was your experience as an API tutor in helping you reach your career goals?

Question 1: How helpful was your position as an API tutor in giving you a better understanding of the course material you tutored?

Question 3: How much self-confidence did you gain because of your position as an API tutor?

Question 4: Were your career goals influenced by your API tutoring?

Question 2: How helpful was the tutoring in helping you decide on a career choice?

Academic Gains

Master Course Content by:

• Listening to different teachers
• Preparing relevant material for each session
• Interacting with students

Master Study Skills by:

• Participating in training
• Helping students
• Interacting with other tutors
• Preparing for sessions

"It opened a new dimension to my understanding of the material and I learned a lot from the students"

“My knowledge of the course material improved significantly. It is elevated to a higher level.”

API at LaGuardia

• Modeled after Supplemental Instruction, a nationally recognized peer tutoring program.
• Tutors re-attend the course and provide out of class group tutoring.

Financial Help

API by the numbers

• A tutor earns $1200 - $1400 per session
• A tutor that works during the entire academic year earns $4800 - $5600
• Full time resident tuition at LaGuardia is $4567 including fees.

Over 20 years of service to LaGuardia students

Over 90% of students rate API sessions as good or excellent

Benefits to Tutors

Students who attend API sessions consistenly show better results

More than

13,000

students attended at least 3

API sessions

More than 400 tutors

Professional Gains

200+ Participating

Faculty

Career Choice

• Many tutors decided to pursue a career in teaching and academia

“Previously I didn’t consider the possibility of becoming a teacher. After tutoring for API, teaching has become my main goal.”

“I always wanted to be a scientist as a kid and I still want to, however API helped me discover that I have some gifts in the field of teaching so I am now considering becoming both a researcher and a professor.”

Leadership Skills

At LaGuardia since 1993

Build a Stronger Resume

Tutors are extensively trained

Tutors are "coaches" not teachers

Social and Personal Gains

Build Self-Confidence

• More confident speaking in public and communicating with other people
• More confident in their ability to learn and master course material

Social Interaction

• Make connections and form friendship with students, tutors, professors and API supervisors
• Learn more about transfer and scholarship possibilities

“Before I was an API tutor, I was afraid to talk to people. After, I felt more confidence.”