What is an Academic Tutor?

By definition, academic tutoring is whereby a person who is more knowledgeable and has the expertise in a specific discipline or academic area offers tutelage, clarification or help to a person or group of people who do not and is usually conducted on a one-to-one.

Academic tutors, including tutors on Staten Island, are instrumental in the academic success of their students as they largely impact their lives. The academic tutor plays a vital role in ensuring that the students are supported in their learning.

Roles of a Tutor

Helper

The biggest role of an academic tutor is in helping his or her students to become problem solvers – be able to learn and find solutions for problems. Unlike how most people perceive tutors, their role is not to give students answers but to help them come up with a solution on their own with the tutor’s support. And as learning is a process, tutors are meant to help their students each step of the way until they are able to achieve the desired results.

Tutor as “Model Student”

While academic tutors are experts in their own field, they are viewed as successful students. They demonstrate thinking, problem solving skills and study skills that are needed when students are learning new skills. As such, they exemplify a model students behavior. They must assess the key areas that a student they are tutoring needs assistance and share with them strategies and tips that work.

Progress

Academic tutors need to keep track of their student’s academic progress. They have to schedule regular sessions with students to ensure they are making progress and help them think about their development and in finding a balance between their studies and extra-curricular activities.