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Learning Center

Tutor Training

The Fresno State Learning Center’s tutor training program is certified by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) at all three levels of the International Tutor Training Program Certification (ITTPC). Pre-semester training is required of all tutors when they begin each of the three levels. The pre-semester training program meets the ITTPC standards of 10 topics over 10 hours at each level, at least 5 hours of which are live and interactive.

The pre-semester trainings for Levels 1, 2, and 3 are parallel, with the same structure and hours but different topics. At each level, tutors have 1 hour of training delivered via Zoom, 2 hours of Canvas training content, and 7 hours of in-person training before they may start tutoring.

See below for the training topics at each level.

Training Topics

Basic Program Tasks & Procedures

  • Training category / topic: Basics / Administrative Policies, Record Keeping and Reporting
  • Standard: The tutor knows the administrative processes outlined by the tutorial program (i.e., time sheets, schedule changes, session notes, etc.).

Tutor Professional Expectations

  • Training category / topic: Basics / Tutoring Dos and Don'ts
  • Standard: The tutor knows and understands the expected behaviors of their position, including what is considered appropriate and inappropriate for their role in the tutorial program.

CSU Learn: Gender Equity and Title IX

  • Training category / topic: Ethics and Equity / Title IX and/or Sexual Harassment
  • Standard: The tutor understands relevant laws and institutional policies for dealing with and minimizing sex discrimination and sexual harassment. The tutor knows techniques to create an environment free of overt or covert sex discrimination and/or sexual harassment, as well as what to do if discrimination or sexual harassment occur within their work at the institution.

Learning Center Safety Training

  • Training category / topic: Electives / Institutional Policies and Procedures
  • Standard: The tutor understands institutional policies and procedures and their relevance to tutoring and the unit/program under which tutoring is housed. Examples of topics that may be covered under this section include items such as: fire safety, active shooter protocols, basic medical emergencies, etc.

Role of the Tutor

  • Training category / topic: Basics / Role of the Tutor
  • Standard: The tutor is aware of the essential functions of their job description as well as what separates a tutor’s role from other adjacent roles (such as classmate, mentor, SI leader, coach, teacher).

Time Management

  • Training category / topic: Learning or Study Techniques / Time Management for Tutors and Tutees
  • Standard: The tutor is a conscientious time and task manager and understands various approaches to effectively managing time in and out of a session.

Tutoring Strategies: Active Learning

  • Training category / topic: Electives / Substitution of Topic from Level 2 or 3 (Active Learning Strategies)
  • Standard: The Master Tutor knows how to use active learning strategies to improve student engagement in a tutorial session, and how to instruct students in using active learning techniques on their own.

Tutoring Strategies: Critical Thinking

  • Training category / topic: Communication / Question Asking Strategies
  • Standard: The tutor knows how to appropriately select and prioritize their questioning techniques for the task at hand and the student’s level of comprehension.

Tutoring Strategies: Interpersonal Dynamics

  • Training category / topic: Communication / Active Listening and Responding
  • Standard: The tutor demonstrates active listening and responding skills in the tutoring process, which may include verbal and non-verbal cues.

Tutoring Strategies: Mental Retrieval

  • Training category / topic: Basics / Conducting a Successful Session
  • Standard: The tutor structures and delivers the tutorial session using an effective methodology, as outlined in their program’s training curriculum.

Tutoring Strategies: Study Methods

  • Training category / topic: Learning or Study Techniques / Advanced Study Skills
  • Standard: The tutor knows effective general and discipline/course-specific study skills and strategies.

Level 1 Customer Service

  • Training category / topic: Electives / Other Topic Based on Institutional and/or Programmatic Need (Customer Service)
  • Standard: The tutor understands the chosen topic and its relevance to their role and/or tutorial program.

Mock Basic Tutoring Sessions

  • Training category / topic: Communication / Communication Styles
  • Standard: The tutor knows the different communication styles, including verbal and nonverbal examples of each style, and uses this information to guide their sessions.

Syllabus Analysis

  • Training category / topic: Learning or Study Techniques / Course and Syllabus Analysis
  • Standard: The tutor analyzes a variety of syllabi and identifies key information from each course. 

Adult Learning Theories

  • Training category / topic: Learning or Study Techniques / Learning Theories in Academic Support Services
  • Standard: The tutor is aware of and understands the basic principles of learning theories associated with academic support services.

Tutor Professional Boundaries

  • Training category / topic: Basics / Establishing Boundaries
  • Standard: The Advanced Tutor understands the importance of setting boundaries with their student(s) and navigates those boundaries appropriately.

Working with Faculty & Staff

  • Training category / topic: Communication / Working with Faculty/Staff
  • Standard: The Advanced Tutor understands the importance of interacting with other professionals and paraprofessionals in a manner consistent with their role and the expectations of the tutorial program. 

Level 1 Review Exam

  • Training category / topic: Basics / Review of Level 1 Topics
  • Standard: The Advanced Tutor understands how to apply the skills, attitudes and behaviors learned in Level 1 training.

Tutoring for Subjects & Skills

  • Training category / topic: Basics / Tutoring in Subject Areas and/or Specific Skills
  • Standard: The Advanced Tutor knows a variety of tutoring approaches that work effectively for tutoring in their content or subject area. 

Mindset Theory

  • Training category / topic: Electives / Practical Applications of Contemporary Research in the Field
  • Standard: The tutor understands the theoretical underpinnings of the selected research-based topics within the field of learning assistance, as well as relevance and practical application of the research within tutoring relationships and/or the unit/program.

Quick Student Assessment

  • Training category / topic: Learning or Study Techniques / Assessing Tutee’s Needs
  • Standard: The Advanced Tutor assesses students' needs and structures tutoring sessions around those needs.

Note Taking for Subjects & Skills

  • Training category / topic: Learning or Study Techniques / Note Taking in the Disciplines
  • Standard: The Advanced Tutor knows research-based best practices for taking notes on specific types of information, and how to integrate instruction on those methods into the tutorial session.

Level 2 Customer Service

  • Training category / topic: Electives / Other Topic Based on Institutional and/or Programmatic Need (Customer Service)
  • Standard: The tutor understands the chosen topic and its relevance to their role and/or tutorial program.

Understanding & Managing Stress

  • Training category / topic: Learning or Study Techniques / Stress Management
  • Standard: The Advanced Tutor knows the difference between eustress and distress and integrates instruction in techniques for managing responses to stressful academic situations into their session. The tutor is aware of, and respects, the boundaries between peer tutor and professional counselor.

Connecting to Campus Resources

  • Training category / topic: Ethics and Equity / Leveraging Student Information for Academic Progress
  • Standard: The Advanced Tutor uses student information (demographics, major, interest, degree program, etc.) to connect the student to resources and supports that help the student stay motivated and make academic progress. 

Tutoring Case Studies

  • Training category / topic: Basics / Challenging Tutoring Situations
  • Standard: The Advanced Tutor is aware of strategies and resources to handle challenging situations they may encounter in the tutoring process.

 Modeling Study Habits

  • Training category / topic: Communication / Role Modeling
  • Standard: The Advanced Tutor understands the purpose and benefit of role modeling and can model student behaviors which are positively associated with success.

Universal Design for Learning

  • Training category / topic: Ethics and Equity / Universal Design for Learning
  • Standard: The Advanced Tutor understands how the principles of Universal Design for Learning promote engagement in the tutorial session regardless of students’ ability and/or disability status.

Operating a Learning Center

  • Training category / topic: Ethics and Equity / Operating a Learning Center
  • Standard: The Master Tutor knows the policies and procedures to run an effective Learning Center and is able to assist the direct/coordinator with daily responsibilities.

Role of Academic Support Programs in Higher Education

  • Training category / topic: Basics / The Role of Tutoring and Learning Centers in Higher Education
  • Standard: The Master Tutor is well-versed in a broad range of issues that focus on the role of learning centers within higher education, including their significance to retention, student success, and instructional initiatives.

Level 1 & Level 2 Review Exam

  • Training category / topic: Basics / Review of Level 1 and 2 Topics
  • Standard: The Master Tutor understands how to apply the skills, attitudes and behaviors learned in Level 1 and 2 training and reflects critically on how training has influenced their work with students.

Leadership Styles for Tutors

  • Training category / topic: Electives / Leadership Styles for Tutors
  • Standard: The Master Tutor knows the different leadership styles and uses this information to effectively run their sessions.

Self-Regulated Learning

  • Training category / topic: Learning or Study Techniques / Self-Regulated Learning
  • Standard: The Master Tutor is familiar with executive functioning and self-regulated learning, and their relationship to students' academic successes and failures. 

Bloom's Taxonomy

  • Training category / topic: Basics / Practical Applications of Contemporary Research in the Field
  • Standard: The tutor understands the theoretical underpinnings of the selected research-based topics within the field of learning assistance, as well as relevance and practical application of the research within tutoring relationships and/or the unit/program.

Cognitive Scaffolding

  • Training category / topic: Learning or Study Techniques / Cognitive Scaffolding
  • Standard: The Master Tutor knows Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development, Pearson & Gallagher’s Gradual Release of Responsibility Model, Bruner’s Theory of Instructional Scaffolding, and/or another appropriate cognitive scaffolding theory or model and uses that knowledge to appropriately scaffold the student's metacognitive development.

Conflict Styles & Conflict Management

  • Training category / topic: Communication / Conflict Resolution
  • Standard: The Master Tutor understands conflict styles and how to manage conflict in the tutoring process.

Team Management Skills

  • Training category / topic: Communication / Group Management Skills
  • Standard: The Master Tutor understands the difference between traditional management and leadership styles (e.g., instrumental vs. expressive) and non-traditional management and leadership styles (e.g., transactional vs. transformational) and how each style impacts the decision-making process. The Master Tutor distinguishes between cooperation, collaboration, and competition.

Level 3 Customer Service

  • Training category / topic: Electives / Other Topic Based on Institutional and/or Programmatic Need (Customer Service)
  • Standard: The tutor understands the chosen topic and its relevance to their role and/or tutorial program.

Public Speaking

  • Training category / topic: Communication / Public Speaking
  • Standard: The Master Tutor knows the components of speaking to groups of people, including analyzing the audience and using effective techniques for promoting the program goals and mission.