It is imperative to remind them that these tools are to help them look at ways to strengthen their ability to tutor. Evaluation is about improvement, not about criticism or finding fault. Encourage your tutors to choose a process of evaluating their lessons and themselves.

Discussion, use of handouts

Materials and equipment

Handout 4.15: Assessing the Session
Handout 4.16: How Well Am I Doing as a Tutor?
Handout 4.17: Lesson Comments

Preparation

Copy handouts.

STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS

  1. Ask tutors what they think about reviewing their planning. Is this something they should do? Why or why not?
  2. Introduce the concept of Assessing the Session. Ask tutors what they think it means to assess. Why might assessment be a good idea? Read over the handout and discuss the ideas. Do tutors agree with the questions asked? Would they ask different questions? How would they use this in a tutoring situation?
  3. Using the handout How Well Am I Doing as a Tutor?, review the questions tutors can ask themselves to determine their effectiveness as tutors.
  4. Review the handout Lesson Comments. Ask tutors if they feel this would be a useful tool to use.


Be aware that talking can be used as an avoidance technique. The student should always leave the lesson having done some reading or writing!

- West Sussex Council Adult Literacy Scheme

Coordinator tip

How can tutors solicit feedback from learners about how well the experience is going, knowing people usually do not want to be impolite or risk some kind of consequence by giving negative feedback directly to a person? Some programs may have developed feedback tools for all learners that are administered by the coordinator. A creative example includes asking questions verbally and providing a sheet with facial expressions to circle (e.g., happy, uncertain, neutral, unhappy).