How To Use This Site
For program directors:
The CNCS/LEARNS Web-Based Tutor Training (WBTT) was designed to make it easier for you to provide training to tutors in your program and meet CNCS guidelines. Even if you lack literacy or tutoring content knowledge, you can still provide quality tutor training. Although the WBTT is not a substitute for training at the school or site where volunteers or members serve, you can use it to supplement quality training. Here are a few suggestions:
- Assign tutors to work through individual units on their own. Have tutors print out their reflections at the end of the unit or, if multiple tutors work on the same unit, conduct a group reflection at your next team meeting.
- If you have access to a computer lab through your school or program site, schedule an in-service training for tutors to work through the training in the lab while you or a staff member with reading expertise circulate to answer questions and provide support
- Create a plan tailored to your own purposes. Because every tutoring program is different, we encourage you to be flexible as you use this tool. Writing up a brief document for your members and volunteers that describes your expectations for how they will use the site will provide clarity and consistency. You can also use this document to highlight features of the training you would like to emphasize, such as the tutoring planner or support materials. Feel free to incorporate ideas from the "For tutors" section below.
For tutors:
If a program staff member has directed you to the WBTT, be sure to find out if he or she has any specific guidance around how you interact with the site. If not, the following ideas can help you get the most from the WBTT:
- Take the self-assessment. This tool can help direct you toward the specific training path(s) or downloadable materials that are best suited to your tutoring assignment and experience.
- Select one of more training paths to work through in a linear fashion. Each training path simulates a tutoring relationship that spans a school year and takes you through scenarios and decision-points that highlight key elements of good tutoring practice. You will find links to tips, strategies, and support materials embedded in each section. You can collect these in your "tutor tote bag" and print them out when you're finished.
- Use the left-hand navigation bar on the introduction page of each training path to scan for particular content or strategies that you are interested in. For example, if you need information on a specific topic, such as visualization, making predictions, or reading non-fiction, you can go directly to that part of the training.
- Revisit the WBTT as you learn more and hone your skills as a tutor. The scenarios and decision points in each training path encourage reflection and we encourage you to reconsider them as you gain more experience.
- If you're looking for downloadable materials and ready-to-use resources, go directly to the Support Materials page. This page catalogues all of the supplemental resources that are embedded throughout the training and puts them together in one accessible menu for users.
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Web-Based Tutor Training | LEARNS | Education, Career and Community Program
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Date of Last Update: 7/14/2004
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