Best of Blabby Advice from Penn State Altoona’s guru
of study skills.
Blabby
talks . . .
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Dear Blabby, Last semester I had some emotional problems
that interfered with studying. I tried to explain this to my tutor, but he said
he didn’t think we should spend time going into that kind of stuff. He was
sympathetic, but he said that I should discuss these sorts of things with
someone else. Was he correct? If so, whom should I talk to? Sad
Dear Sad, Your tutor was correct. Whether he was a peer or a pro, his role was to
help you focus on the academic side of life. For help with emotional problems,
contact the
Dear Blabby, What’s with those English tutors??? I went
to see a couple of them, just to have them proofread my paper and fox the
typos. They all said that wasn’t the way it works. What gives? They had me
doing exercizes and talking a lot about who my
audience was. Mystified
Dear Mystified, Count your lucky stars. That’s how English tutoring
is supposed to work. The tutors will help you understand your weaknesses so you
can fix them yourself. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, Is it possible for my students to use your
English tutors even though I am not teaching English? The essays I have been
receiving from them are not written well. It would be good, in a number of
cases, if I could refer students to professional tutors (for the mechanics of
their writing only). Regards, Professor
Dear Professor, Yes. Of course your students may seek help
from the LRC writing specialist with any writing they do for any course. Tell
your students to check the schedule on our website, http://www.psu.edu/dept/altoonalrc/altlrc.html
. The writing specialist will be glad to help with mechanics as well as other
issues such as the writing process, organization, etc. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, Can I get a tutor to help me while I
am writing my papers? If someone points out my errors while I am writing, it
will save time. Writer
Dear Writer, This would not be a good idea. If you think
about it, this strategy would probably backfire because if a tutor stood at
your shoulder while you wrote, he or she might distract you just by being
there. And suppose you did make an error while writing. Can you imagine how
distracting it would be for the tutor to say, “Oops!
Look, you need a comma there. That’s a compound sentence. Let me explain.” You
would surely get away from your train of thought.
Another reason to
avoid this strategy is that tutors often look for patterns of errors in drafts
written by students. Your tutor will help you find these patterns for yourself,
and you can then edit your own papers most effectively.
This brings me to
the final, and most important, reason we don’t tutor this way: The main goal of
the LRC is to help you become an independent learner. Sometimes students want
to jump from blank page to final draft in one step; however, writing is a
process that works best if you take it one step at a time. If you learn to
master the writing process by learning that prewriting, writing, revising, and
editing are separate steps, you will have made a huge leap toward being an
independent writer. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, How can I prepare for my finals? Worried in
November
Dear Worried, It’s really great that you asked this
question at this point in the semester because the worst thing you can do is to
wait until right before the exams and cram. Here are some things you can do in
the month before a final exam to get ready for it:
Find out what kind
of exams the finals will be. Ask your professors the following questions: Will
the final include all the material covered this semester? How many questions
will there be? Will it be essay, multiple-choice, true-false, or a combination?
(Hint: Check the course syllabus.) Use this information to make practice tests.
Set priorities for
studying. In her book, Orientation to
College Learning, Dianna Van Blerkom points out
that you will improve your GPA if you focus on raising your borderline grades.
If you are failing a course, you might be tempted to focus on that one, but it
is much more difficult to turn an F
into a D than to turn a B+ into an A-. An A- will raise your
GPA more than a D will. Besides, many
students will actually lower their other course grades by putting all their
energy into a course in which they are failing. Calculate your grades so far
for each course, and plan accordingly. Don’t forget that it is most important
to do well in the courses in your major.
Use time management
strategies. At the end of the semester, most students are very tired and are
tempted to let up a bit. Be sure you allow plenty of time for reviewing your
course work. Break up your review sessions into one-hour chunks. Do not cram
for one exam at a time and then move on to the next exam. You will feel less
overwhelmed if you switch from one subject to another during the weeks leading
up to the finals. Start early. Don’t wait till finals week. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, I never have any trouble with courses for
which the exams are based on memorization of facts; however, when the exams ask
me to apply facts to new situations or to analyze new facts according to
principles I have learned, I have lots of trouble. It seems that as I take more
courses in my major, I have more of the second type of exam and fewer of the
first type. Is there some way to study for this type of exam? Wants Todowell
Dear Todowell, This is a fabulous question. You already have recognized an important
aspect of education: the further you go, the more analytical the learning
becomes. When you are studying for your exams, try to anticipate possible
questions, and try to make them reflect this higher-level learning. Two
handouts on critical thinking and Bloom’s
taxonomy in our handouts section of our website might be of help to
you. All our handouts are available at http://www.psu.edu/dept/altoonalrc/altlrc.html Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, Last semester, my grades were not that
great. I went a little overboard with my social life, and my studies suffered.
What can I do to avoid problems and catch up this semester? I need to get my
GPA above a 3.0, or I won’t get into the major I want. Feeling Low
Dear Feeling, You’ve actually made the first step by
realizing that you need to change some behaviors to get back on track. Here are
some options to consider: Tell your friends that you need to focus on studies
this semester, so you won’t be available for as many parties. Then find a way
to avoid temptation. One strategy that works for many students is to go to the
library to study. Another strategy that can help is to manage your time. Use a
planner or calendar to block off times when you will study and socialize. Then
stick to it. For more information about time management, visit the LRC home page
and click on study skills link. You may want to see a tutor to
discuss your study strategies. If you can be efficient in studying, you might
find that you’ll have time for a reasonable social life. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, During my first year at Penn State Altoona, I
had a GPA under 2.0. My advisor said I should talk to someone at the LRC about
study skills, and she showed me a bookmark that gave hints on how to read a
textbook. I started doing that, and now my GPA is above a 3.0. Thanks, Happy
Camper
Dear Happy, Thank you! You made my day. Other students
who want to work on reading strategies can see a study skills tutor. The
schedule is on the LRC web page. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, My grades last
semester were not as good as I had hoped they’d be. How can I get off to a good
start this semester? I. Care
Dear Mr. or Ms. Care, This is a great question with which to start
the semester. Here are some tips:
Buy your textbooks
right away. On a practical level, this will avoid problems if the bookstore
runs out. Also, you should skim through the entire book for each class during
the first week so you will have an idea of the big picture for the courses.
Speaking of
textbooks, make sure you read them. Don’t get behind early in the semester.
Even if your registration
is not complete, attend class from day one. And keep attending class all
semester.
Take good notes in
class. Be systematic about taking notes, and review your notes as soon as
possible after class.
Buy a calendar, and
use it. Write the dates of all your exams and project due dates on your
calendar. Schedule study times as appointments with yourself.
Do all your
homework, even homework that isn’t turned in for grades.
See a tutor early in
the semester if you are having trouble or would like to review. Don’t wait too
long to get started.
Visit the LRC webpage
for more strategies. There is an extensive resource for students in the study skills
and the handouts links.
Enjoy your semester.
Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, I’m taking a math course. What is the best
way to get the most out of my tutoring sessions? Number Lady
Dear Number Lady, Do your homework problems before you meet
with your tutor. That way, the tutor can show you where in the problem-solving
process you made errors. If you understand why you made an error, you can avoid
it the next time. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, I took Math 21 my freshman year and didn’t
do very well in it. Now I’m a senior and need to take Stat 200. How can I
survive? Math Hater
Dear Math Hater, Your situation is fairly common, and it
breaks my heart every time I hear another student tell me about this approach.
I hope your question provides a lesson to other students. It’s not good to have
a large gap between a course and its prerequisite.
Stat 200 will be
very difficult for you. You should work with a tutor every week to make sure
you understand the material. Do not wait until right before an exam to “catch
up.” (Note: It’s always best to have regular weekly tutoring sessions.)
Make sure you work on
relevant algebra problems with your tutor, and make sure you do your homework
problems before seeing the tutor. Students sometimes think that because they
are struggling with problems they should wait and see the tutor before doing
them; however, when you do the problems before seeing the tutor, they provide a
way for the tutor to diagnose your difficulties.
Also, make sure you
read your textbook. This will provide a complement to
your professor’s explanations in class. If you find a section of the textbook
that you don’t understand, mark it with a question mark and discuss it with
your tutor or your professor.
Finally, I know this
will be a difficult course for you, but remember that no matter how tough it
is, it will end. We all need to get through difficult things in our lives, and
knowing that they are temporary sometimes helps. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, Why don’t we celebrate Pi Day (3-14) at Penn
State Altoona? Math Lover
Dear Math Lover, You got me! I have been an advocate for a
national Pi Day holiday for over 50 years. Let’s you and I celebrate. Best
wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, I’m taking Math 110 this summer even though
I didn’t do well in Math 22. (I got a “D.”) Can a tutor help me pass? Worried
Sick
Dear Worried
Sick, This is a common
question, especially during the summer. I see two problems here: You aren’t
really ready for Math 110, and the pace in the summer is very fast.
I certainly hope you
are not working many hours a week while you are taking this course because the only
way you can pull this off is to spend a lot of time working on the math.
This means you may have to cut back on your work hours and cut back on your
social life for the six weeks of the course.
As for the tutor, we
have very limited tutoring available in the summer. You can contact the
coordinator to request tutoring (use the form at http://www.aa.psu.edu/lrc/applpeer.htm),
but please do not think that you can do all your studying with a tutor. We
don’t have the hours available for that, and, besides, it’s not an appropriate
use of the LRC.
Also, make sure you
complete your readings and homework before seeking help. The tutor is not a
substitute for actually doing the lessons yourself. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, My roommate is having a lot of trouble with
a math class, and I know from my own experience that tutoring would be helpful,
but I don’t want to hurt her feelings or seem pushy by telling her to see a
tutor. What can I do? Nice Person
Dear Nice Person,
Just be nice about it. When
you see her struggling, tell her how helpful tutoring was when you took a
difficult course. Make sure you tell her tutoring provided by the LRC is free.
Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, Am I unreasonable to expect someone to show
up for an appointment? Tapping My Toe
Dear Tapping, No. If the “someone” is a tutee, drop him
or her after two no-shows, and notify the LRC coordinator. If the “someone” is a
tutor, let the LRC coordinator know right away. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, Why do we have to fill out everything on
the “request for tutoring services” form? Writer’s Cramp
Dear Cramp, We need some of the information we ask for
to assign you the best possible peer tutor for your situation. For example, we
try to match tutor and tutee who have had the same
instructor because different instructors emphasize different things. Also, we
have to keep records for the university. If we have the information on your
request form, it saves time when we compile our records. Thanks for your help.
Blabby
Dear Blabby, What should I do if a student shows up drunk
for a tutoring session? This happened to me, and it was pretty awkward. Thanks,
Peer Tutor
Dear Tutor, It’s amazing, isn’t it? You have to wonder
how someone could think a tutoring session could be productive after drinking
enough to be visibly impaired. For your own safety, tell the student you can’t
have a tutoring session at that time. For the student’s safety, suggest that he
or she call someone for a ride home. Do not drive the student home yourself,
again for safety reasons. Don’t hesitate to call the police (5222 or 911) if
the situation seems serious. Also, let the LRC Coordinator know about the
incident. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, What should I do with a chronically late
student? This really eats up my time. Thanks, Another
Peer Tutor
Dear Another, Wait about 10 minutes for a student; then
consider him a no-show. The LRC policy for no-shows follows: “If a student
doesn’t show up for a scheduled appointment, he or she should receive a warning
from the tutor. After two no-shows, students will not be permitted to receive
tutoring for the remainder of the semester. Please discuss these situations
with the LRC Coordinator.” (Handbook, page 10.) Please
explain this policy to your students during your first tutoring session. Best
wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, I’ve been seeing a tutor all semester, and I
really appreciate the help, but he isn’t very sympathetic when I express my
disgust for the jerk who is my teacher. Why? Wondering
Dear Wondering, Whoa. Your tutor can’t get involved in
personality conflicts or other disputes you might have with your professor.
First, the tutor’s job is to help you learn the material for the course and to
become an independent learner. Second, the tutor is only hearing your side of
the story—that’s not fair to the professor. Third, many students who are not
doing well in a course want to find some way to blame the professor, the
textbook, the time of day, the flu, the roommate, you name it. Tutors hear them
all. The sooner your tutor can get back onto the subject at hand—the material
you must master—the better for you. If you have a concern about your professor,
the proper way to address it is to speak to your professor. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, Should I tip my
tutor? Poor But Happy
Dear Poor, No. Your tutor is not permitted to accept
monetary tips or gifts. Your tuition pays for your free tutoring at Penn State
Altoona. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, What does it cost to see a tutor? Does it
cost more to see one of the professional tutors? Low Oncash
Dear Low, All tutoring (peer and professional) at Penn State Altoona is free. Best
wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, I am taking a course through Penn State
Distance Education, and I think I will need some help preparing the lessons. Is
it okay if I see a tutor here at Penn State Altoona? Ina Pinch
Dear Ina, This is a common question, especially during
the summer. Many students want to catch up or get a little ahead by taking
Distance Education courses in the summer.
The rule is this:
Because of the special nature of Distance Education courses, we do not allow tutors
to help students with them. You should contact your Distance Education
instructor for help.
Please remember that
all tutoring at Penn State Altoona is free to students who are enrolled here
because their tuition pays the salaries of the LRC staff and for LRC equipment.
When you take a Distance Education course, none of your tuition is returned to
Penn State Altoona. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, Why do some tutors charge students for
tutoring when your website says tutoring is free? Broke
Dear Broke, None of the tutors who work for the LRC will
ever charge any fee for tutoring. They are paid by the LRC for their services,
not by the individual students they work with.
You might see signs
around campus offering tutoring services. The students who put up these signs
are not affiliated with the LRC. They might be very good students, but if they
do not work for the LRC, they have not been through the LRC’s
screening process, which includes approval by the faculty member who taught
each LRC tutor each course he or she tutors.
When in doubt, check
it out. All tutors who work for the LRC see students during drop-in hours
according to the schedules on our website, or they see students by appointment
after the student has filled out the proper online form available at http://www.aa.psu.edu/lrc/applpeer.htm.
In addition, tutors
who work for the LRC do not make house calls. Tutoring sessions are held in
public places; this is for the safety of both the student and the tutor. Best
wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, Why do we have those crappy Gen. Ed.
requirements? Engineer
Dear Engineer, Because we are not studying at a trade
school. We are Penn State. If you think my reply is a bit flip, think of this:
Your Penn State diploma will be recognized around the world as evidence of your
having achieved a well-rounded, first rate education. Part of what makes this
education first-rate is the Gen. Ed requirements. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, I have several
students in a computer course who have problems setting up programs because
they seem to have a lot of trouble with mathematical word problems. Is there
any way the LRC could help these students? Prof.
Dear Prof., Yep. There are
several ways we can help: First, your students can go over old quizzes with a
tutor. This can be really helpful because a tutor can often see patterns in
errors. If the students can learn to see the patterns, they can learn to fix
the errors themselves. This can save multiple points on future exams. Second,
students also can bring their homework to a tutor, who will discuss approaches
to the problems. This works best if the students do their homework before
seeing the tutor. Finally, we have links to math review sites on our LRC
webpage. Students can work with these online resources independently or with a
tutor. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, Is there some way the LRC can help me? I
would like to give students the opportunity to earn extra credit points by
seeing a tutor. How would I know who actually sees the tutor and how long they
spend with the tutor? Professor
Dear Professor, We can help. All students must fill out a
form when they initially request help from a tutor. Part of this form is a
waiver that allows us to discuss the student’s progress with the instructor. We
also have various referral forms for professors to use, and we could have your
students sign a special weekly log. Just call the coordinator (5112) to set up
a system that will work for you and your students. And thanks for asking in
advance. It really helps when we set things up before the students start
arriving. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, I noticed that there aren’t any peer tutors having
drop-in hours for the course I teach. What should my students do? Thanks,
Professor
Dear Professor, This is probably the most common question
asked of LRC staff. First, don’t assume that because there are no drop-in
hours, there are no tutors. Only some of our peer tutors have drop-in hours.
All peer tutors also see students by appointment. A list of courses for which
we have peer tutoring is available at the LRC website: http://www.psu.edu/dept/altoonalrc/altlrc.html.
(The website always has the most up-to-date information available about any of
the LRC services.)
Second, if we don’t
have either drop-in or by-appointment tutoring, your students should make use
of study skills tutoring. They should take their textbooks and notebooks to see
a study skills tutor and work on how they are approaching the material. This
can sometimes pay big dividends for all their courses.
Third, think now
about encouraging your best students to become peer tutors next semester.
Applications will be available in November and March for spring and fall. You
guessed it: Check the LRC webpage for details. Thanks, and best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, How can students use the new biology review
software? BioProf
Dear BP, Students should use the software with a tutor the first time. They can
get a schedule of tutoring hours (peer or professional) at the LRC homepage.
After using the software once with a tutor, they may use it on their own by
contacting the LRC Coordinator to make an appointment. For a list of disks
available, go to http://www.psu.edu/dept/altoonalrc/biolist.htm Best wishes,
Blabby
Dear Blabby, What about Chemistry software? ChemProf
Dear CP, Your list is here: http://www.psu.edu/dept/altoonalrc/chemlist. Best wishes to
you, too, Blabby
Dear Blabby, Are students who were approved to tutor
last year still in the file and able to tutor students now? I know of a couple
of students who have assumed that they are still listed as tutors. Professor
Dear Prof., No. Students who were approved last year
need to be re-approved this year. Otherwise, we would have a book full of names
of people who are no longer interested, have not maintained the minimum GPA,
have moved to UP, or have graduated. The only way to keep things up to date is
to have tutors update their files every semester. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, On a pretty regular basis I have students
who need tutors. Can you tell me exactly what the procedure is to receive
approval to tutor a course? It would be helpful to know exactly what must be
done before I try to drum up some extra tutors from previous classes. I really
appreciate your help (as do my students). Thanks! Professor Too
Dear Prof., Thank you!
To be approved as a peer tutor, a student must have at least a 3.0 GPA, an A or A-
in the course to be tutored, and the approval of the LRC Coordinator and the
faculty member who taught the student in the course to be tutored. All tutors
must complete 10 hours of training in the first semester they tutor. Thanks
again, and best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, Do you have any
handouts I can give my students? Professor
Dear Professor, You bet. We have bookmarks and brochures
that explain the LRC programs, and we have handouts on note-taking and other
study skills. We even have a Power Point presentation on critical thinking that
you can customize for your students. We are also willing to develop materials
with faculty as time permits, so contact the coordinator and discuss further
options. Best wishes, Blabby
Studying
Dear Blabby, I will be attending Penn State Altoona in
the fall. Is there anything special I should do to make the transition from
high school to college? FTCAP Female
Dear FTCAP
Female, I’m glad you asked.
The LRC has a special section of our webpage on the theme of transitions.
This should help you. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, Why is it that I can memorize the words to
every song on a new CD in no time at all, but I have a lot of trouble memorizing
facts for exams? Struggling Student
Dear Student, The music probably has something to do with
it, but think about how many times you play a new CD. When I get one, I will
play it over and over and over. Repetition is the key here. If you want to
learn facts for exams, repeat them over, and over, and over, and. . . . You get
the idea. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, Okay, I’m new here, and I admit it’s a
little bit scary. Everyone says college is much harder than high school, and
the professors won’t cut you any slack, and there’s no way to earn extra
credit, which is what got me through high school in the first place. What can I
do? New Here
Dear New, If you are reading this newsletter, you have
taken a good step in the right direction. The LRC can help you carry that load.
First, our tutors can help you understand the content of difficult courses, and
develop study strategies that will be useful in all your courses. Second, our
website has dozens of links to topics such as study skills and various content
areas like math, the sciences, foreign languages, etc. Finally, don’t discount
your professors. Most of them are more than willing to spend time helping
students, especially if the students have done some work before they ask for
help. You can’t expect your professors (or tutors, or anyone) to substitute for
attending class, reading your text, or doing your homework; however, if you do
your part, you will find your professors to be extremely helpful. Best wishes,
Blabby
Dear Blabby, What’s the most
difficult thing for most college students? Homesickness?
Lack of confidence? Time management?
Wanna Avoidit
Dear Wanna Avoidit, Good question. Of course, there are
different strokes for different folks, but I think motivation is a key factor
in most students’ problems. For example, students who tell their tutors that
they need to work on time management often have very little motivation to do
the things they know they ought to do – go to class, read their textbooks,
study, make up practice exams, organize study groups, attend review sessions,
etc.
Think about it this way: If someone is really motivated to
learn a sport, no one needs to nag her to practice, go to the weight room, and
learn the rules of her game. Similarly, someone who wants to play the guitar
will often forego lots of activities that may seem like a lot more fun to
friends and family just for the sake of getting extra practice. In both cases,
the learner is motivated.
And consider the people who really want to excel at
an activity. They will devote almost every waking moment to pursuing their
dreams. Think of Lance Armstrong, for example. Do you think he needed someone
else to motivate him? I doubt it.
Staff in the LRC will tell you that far too many students
say they want to excel (get good grades, go to medical school, etc.), but they
don’t seem very motivated. They are the ones who talk about their dreams at
four parties a week. Meanwhile, the students who are motivated to do what it
takes will achieve their dreams. They may not attend as many parties as some of
their classmates, but they will avoid many pitfalls. Think about it. Best
wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, I work over 24 hours a week and go to
school full time. It’s impossible for me to see the only tutor who is approved
for one of the courses I’m taking because the tutor’s schedule doesn’t match my
schedule. What can I do? Frazzled
Dear Frazzled, This is a tough one. It sounds like your
schedule might be too full. You may
want to re-consider carrying such a heavy load. Analyze your load using this
time management website:
http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/TMInteractive.html . Once you analyze
your situation, you may find that cutting back on your work hours or going to
school part time may help. I know that’s a difficult choice to make, but think
about it.
Can a tutor help? Maybe. A tutor might be able to work with you on your study
skills, so you learn to study as efficiently as possible. For example, when you
read a textbook, are you able to identify the important points? However, no tutor--peer
or pro--can make up for an academic handicap caused by a lack of time for
reading your textbooks, doing assignments, and studying the material. Best
wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, My problem is that I don’t have much time
to study. What are some shortcuts I can take? Heck Tic
Dear Heck, First evaluate your typical week. You may find some time you
overlooked. How much television do you watch? Keep track of everything you do
for a week, and see if you have some time you’ve been overlooking. Many students
use the time between classes to focus on studies. (Hint: The library is a good
place for studying).
Another tip is to
maximize your study time by taking excellent notes in class and while you are reading
your textbooks. You can save time by studying from your notes.
Finally, if you are
juggling work, school, and family responsibilities, you may want to take a
light load of credits so you’ll have more time to study. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, How much time is reasonable for studying? I
am taking 12 credits this semester. Clock Watcher
Dear Clock, The answer can depend on the courses you are
taking and on your background, but most professors
make up a syllabus that assumes approximately three hours of work outside class
for every hour in class. Therefore, you should spend nine hours a week studying
for each three-credit course. If you are taking 12 credits, plan to study about
36 hours a week. That explains why a 12-credit load is considered a full-time
schedule. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, My tutor was working with me on my study
skills, and she said I should work on overcoming my tendency to procrastinate.
Well, I admit that I often put projects like papers off until the last minute,
and I usually wait until the night before an exam to really hit the books. But
I figure some people work best under pressure, so why not give myself a little
pressure by letting things go? And, besides, I have a lot of fun in the
meantime. Waiting
Dear Waiting, Not a good strategy. It’s common, but not
good. Look at it this way: If you are able to do pretty well by using your
waiting technique, you probably would do a lot better if you didn’t
procrastinate. If you are getting Cs now, you might get Bs (or
even As) if you rearranged your studying. Best
wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, What’s the difference between a peer tutor
and a professional tutor? Wondering
Dear Wondering, Good question. I bet lots of students wonder.
A peer tutor is a student who has taken a particular course and then tutors it.
Peer tutors must have a 3.0 GPA, an “A” or “A-” in the course to be tutored, and the approval of the professor who taught the
peer tutor. Peer tutors also must have completed nine credits at Penn State
Altoona. To see a peer tutor, students must sign up for the service by filling
out a form that can be picked up at the library. Students are then given the
name and phone number and e-mail address of a peer tutor and are responsible
for setting up an appointment with the tutor.
A professional tutor
is not a student. Most of our professional tutors also teach the courses they
tutor. Several are retired teachers who volunteer in our program. Students do
not need an appointment to see a professional tutor. Professional tutors have
office hours, and students can drop in for a tutoring session. After the first
session with a professional tutor, appointments may be made. Best wishes,
Blabby
Dear Blabby, I just wanted to
get back to you on the status of my tutoring for math. (I had wanted to wait
until I took my first test.) My tutor has been extremely helpful!! He has
helped me develop my confidence in math and teaches me the concept of actually
learning it and developing a resource so I never forget it, instead of just
remembering for the test and then forgetting. My first test was last week, and
I received a B. :) Furthermore, the class average was a 59 %!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you very much for your referral. It is much appreciated and worthwhile;
it is exactly what I needed. Thank you again. Math Student
Dear Student, It’s wonderful to get feedback like this.
Thanks very much, and good luck as you continue your studies. Best wishes,
Blabby
Dear Blabby, I had this teacher who gave us review
sheets, but she wouldn’t give us vocabulary definitions. What is the deal? Can
tutors give us vocabulary lists? Baffled
Dear Baffled, Did you buy the textbook? This seems like
the kind of information a textbook would have, either in a glossary or in the
text. This brings yours truly to one of my biggest pet peeves: Some students
expect professors, or even tutors, to do too much for them.
If you bought a car
for $15,000 and skimped on the keeping oil in the engine, you would be very
foolish. Why on earth would you pay thousands of dollars in tuition and fees,
and then not buy the textbooks? Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, I’m a freshman, and I am amazed at how
different my academic life is compared to high school. In high school, the teachers
gave us study guides with what would be on the tests, and it was easy to study
only what was on a study guide and get a good grade. Do the tutors have study
guides? Grade Gal
Dear Grade, The tutors don’t have study guides, but they
can help you prepare your own, and that should help you learn the material so
you can get better grades. You should see a tutor who is approved for the
course(s) you are taking, or a study skills tutor, who can help you work on
your overall approach to studying. Make sure you bring your notebook and
textbook with you to tutoring sessions. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, I’m really behind
in a certain course, and I thought it would be a good idea if I caught up with
a tutor. I thought we could get together and go over each chapter in the book,
beginning with the first. Then I can catch up. What do you think of this
strategy? Behind
Dear Behind, I’m a little concerned that when you say,
“go over each chapter in the book,” you mean that you want a shortcut that will
allow you to cover the material in the book without actually reading it
yourself.
There are two
problems with your strategy. First, it would be very time consuming, and a
tutor may not have the time to work with you so intensively. A better approach
would be for you to read (or re-read) the chapters yourself and make a list of
questions to ask the tutor. Then the tutor can spend time with you covering
only the parts of the text you don’t understand.
Second, this
strategy might tempt you either to not read the book at all or to skim it.
Don’t forget: Tutoring is not a substitute for independent study. Best wishes,
Blabby
Dear Blabby, If I miss a
class, I can get the notes from a tutor, right? Sleepy Head
Dear Sleepy, Wrong. Seeing a
tutor is never a substitute for going to class. Even if the tutor had the same
professor in a previous semester, the lectures often change. Your professor may
emphasize new material this semester, and that may be important to know. Sweet
dreams, Blabby
Dear Blabby,
I know it is early
in the semester, but I have already missed several classes. Can a tutor help me
get caught up? Wants an A
Dear Wants,
It is early
in the semester. I am concerned that you might be developing some bad habits.
Tutors can help you review material, and they can explain concepts you are
having difficulty with, but they can’t replace your professor. Tutors have no
way of knowing what the professor covered in the classes you missed. Even if
you know what chapters the professor covered, the tutor won’t know what
examples the professor used or what information she highlighted. Therefore, it
is to your advantage to attend class and then see a tutor. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, I applied for a
job as a peer tutor this year, but I wasn’t selected. What does the LRC
Coordinator look for in peer tutors? Should I reapply in the spring? Sad
Student
Dear Student, Don’t be sad. Last year, the LRC had over 50
applicants for approximately 20 jobs. You should be proud that your GPA was
high enough (over 3.0) for you to apply.
When screening
applications, the LRC Coordinator looks for students who can tutor multiple
priority courses such as math and science because the LRC gets hundreds of
requests for math and science tutoring each semester, but only gets a handful
of requests for tutoring courses such as Psychology and Sociology.
If several students
have similar lists of courses they want to tutor, the LRC Coordinator selects
the students with the highest GPA.
You are welcome to apply
in the spring. The LRC usually carries over most of the tutors from spring to
fall, but depending on the courses you want to tutor, there may be a need. Best
wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, Can I be a tutor? Smart Student
Dear Student, Thanks for asking. Beginning in November,
you can apply to be a tutor for spring semester. (You can apply in March for a
job in the fall semester.) If you can tutor math or science, you’ll have a
higher likelihood of getting a job because we have lots of demand for these
subjects. To be a tutor, you must have a 3.0 GPA, have completed at least 9
credits at Altoona College, have an A or A- the courses you want to tutor, and
have the approval of both the LRC coordinator and the professor who taught you
the courses you want to tutor. Applications will be available on the LRC webpage.
Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, My friend told me about the great
newsletter concerning tutoring. I would be ecstatic to read it, but there’s one
problem—I have no idea where to obtain one! Can you please help me out of this
predicament? It’s blatantly obvious I need your assistance. Thank you. Need A.
Newsletter
Dear Friend of Need, We used to print hard copies of Learning Resources Times and distribute
them at various locations around campus, but because of the cost of
photocopying, we now publish news entirely on our website. Articles from back
issues of the newsletter can be found in our handouts page.
All those great old URLs from the newsletter can be found in the study skills
page. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, Why do some courses not have any tutors
available? Need Help
Dear Need, We try to provide tutors for as many courses as possible, but there are
several limiting factors. Some courses are taught by only one professor, so we
do not have a pool of people to recruit from for professional tutors. For some
courses, especially those offered only once a year, many of the students who
take the course transfer to University Park before it is offered again. Even if
there is not a tutor available for a course you are taking, you should still
fill out a “request for tutor” form. The coordinator will try to find a tutor,
and if she can’t, she will offer you study skills help with one of the
professional tutors or she will loan you study skills materials. Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, Why is it that some courses don’t have
tutors? Wondering
Dear Wondering, There are two reasons: First, we try to
maximize our budget by hiring tutors for the high-priority courses. These are
courses for which we have received the most requests in past semesters. And the
level of requests actually remains fairly consistent, so we know pretty well
that we will always have lots of requests for certain courses, such as math.
Second, it’s very
hard to find tutors for some courses, even though we do get requests several
times a semester. For some of these courses, the problem seems to be that only
a few sections are offered each year; therefore, the pool of potential tutors
is small. For other courses, students tend to take them as sophomores and then
transfer to University Park. Again, the pool of potential tutors is very small
(or non-existent). What can you do when there aren’t any tutors for a course
you are taking? Talk to your professor about specific problems you have, and
see a study skills tutor for help with study strategies in general. Best
wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, I need help in a course
for which there are no tutors. What can I do? Up Sett
Dear Up, Don’t panic. You can talk to one of the study skills tutors or use the
study skills materials available at the LRC. For example, we have worksheets
that will help you identify your preferred learning style and will suggest
hints for capitalizing on your strengths. See the tutoring schedule at the LRC webpage.
Best wishes, Blabby
Dear Blabby, I really, really, really need a tutor for a
course I am taking, but there are no peer tutors approved and no professional
tutors available. What’s a guy to do? Sinking Fast
Dear Sinking, Hang on. First, fill out a “request for
tutoring services form” at the LRC webpage.
The LRC coordinator will try to find you a tutor. If she can’t, she’ll try to
find other resources that might help you. Second, talk to your professor. He or
she may have suggestions for you. Third, see if some of your classmates would
like to join you in a study group.
We don’t have peer tutors
for every course because some courses are offered primarily for sophomores.
When these students transfer to University Park, there isn’t a pool of
potential tutors to draw from. Best wishes, Blabby
Revised and links
checked: 8/3/2006