When considering your tutoring needs, there is an abundance of options available. This can be former students offering their knowledge and
assistance, accredited tutors freelancing for additional income, or tutoring companies. Here at Full Spectrum Tutoring, we are well aware of
the benefits and improved outcomes that are a result of our structured and tailored tutoring programs. However, it doesn’t hurt to have
research to support the programming your company offers.
Cohen, Kulic and Chen-Lin conducted literature research and discovered that multiple studies found that tutoring programs have definite and
positive effects on the academic performance and attitudes of those that receive tutoring. The authors also discovered that tutored students
consistently outperformed their peers and expressed more positive attitudes toward the subjects in which they were tutored. Tutoring was
also found to improve tutees in both their cognitive and affective levels. Wooley and Hay discuss the benefit of trained tutors in
"Reading intervention: The benefits of using trained tutors". In this study it was found that learning engagement and tutee
enjoyment was greater when tutoring with trained tutors as opposed to untrained tutors.
Structure is another aspect to consider when deciding on a tutoring plan. Elison, as well as Rosenshine and Furst both reported that only
structured programs provided the outcome of contributing greatly to each subject’s academic and cognitive outcome. Structured programs
ensure tutees reach their academic and personal goals by creating a strong, organised tutoring plan of attack to address weaknesses that
require addressing.
Cohen et al. also discussed their discovery that structured programs were also found to have “definite and positive effects on the academic performance and attitudes of those that received tutoring”. Attitude is another aspect to consider when evaluating one's tutoring needs. If a tutee has a negative attitude towards their learning and learning environment, this can negatively influence the outcome of their work. A tutor must ensure their tutee's are interested and engaged in their learning experience. This ensures tutees do not get apathetic with their studies, lower enthusiasm can lead to lower grades, keep learning enjoyable!
Feedback is also a critical element to tutoring outcome. Woolley and Hay discuss that When tutors provided appropriate feedback on structured program performance, they can assist less able tutees to know how and when to apply strategies and develop their self-regulatory and self-efficacy behaviours.
The positive influence of tutoring is clearly understood and known within our society. It is clear through established research, that structured tailored tutoring plans are superior when compared with unstructured, unplanned tutoring services. Ensure your hard earned money isn’t wasted on low effort, low outcome tutoring solutions.
References:
http://www.fau.edu/CLASS/CRLA/Level_Three/Educational_Outcomes_of_Tutoring_A_Meta-analysis_of_Findings.pdf
https://www.alea.edu.au/documents/item/74
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0361476X87800462
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Marie_Tejero_Hughes/publication/232575550_How_effective_are_one-to-one_tutoring_programs_in_reading_for_elementary_students_at_risk_for_reading_failure_A_meta-analysis_of_the_intervention_research/links/5a59215fa6fdcc3bfb5ab389/How-effective-are-one-to-one-tutoring-programs-in-reading-for-elementary-students-at-risk-for-reading-failure-A-meta-analysis-of-the-intervention-research.pdf
