Tutor that's Ready for the Lecture

If you as a student would like to support other students in the learning process, then the role as a tutor fits perfectly. As a tutor, you will assist other students during exercises, lab / practical work, as well as supervision of learning groups and discussion rounds. Responsibilities of this role include possible repetition of taught work, knowledge of practical exercises and a deep understanding of the course content. In order to accomplish this, having good instructional and methodological skills are vital.

Are you interested as a department/faculty or departmental student body and representative committee in our tutor qualification? We encourage you to contact us so that we can discuss your needs and set up an appointment for your tutors.

Tutor Qualification

With our basic qualification we support and prepare tutor candidates for their new role. We introduce access points to conducting (online) tutorials, how to achieve a motivated learning environment and develop their instructional skills. In addition, we simulate different situations that could occur during a tutorial, followed by discussing strategies of how to handle difficult situations.

Our additional practically orientated modules are available for both new and experienced tutors, whereby they can improve their skills and knowledge based on their own interests. Additionally, this will facilitate meeting fellow tutors as well as the exchange of ideas or experiences.

In addition to group learning during modules, there will be some self study content provided which is available under the Tutor Qualification Course page on Moodle. More information relating to course themes can be found in the knowledge cache under Study Techniques .

Tutors with their competencies are a building block of good teaching

Who can take part and how much does it cost?

This offer is free to all students of TU Darmstadt. The requirements for taking part is a (planned) activity as a tutor.

Basic Qualification – Introduction to the role

Together we will develop the foundations for interdisciplinary instruction and methodological skill, which will prepare you for your first (online) tutorial. In doing so you will have improved your social and self skills, as well as reinforce your understanding of the role.

Content Covered:

• Tasks and boundaries of a tutor.

• Role and attitude of a tutor.

• Preparation for your own target groups.

• Based on the type of tutorial: Layout of (online) exercises, practicals, deeper understanding or discussion sessions.

• Dealing with difficult situations.

• Using and understanding the principle of minimal help.

• Development of your own tutoring style.

• Simulation of tutorials.

The basic qualification takes approximately 4 hours (in person) and 4.5 hours online and will take place in small groups with the number of participants ranging between 4 – 12 students. Upon completion, the participants will receive a certificate.

Peer Observation – Feedback for your tutorial

Peer observation presents two opportunities at once: Firstly it provides the opportunity to see the structure of other tutor’s tutorials. Secondly, there is the opportunity to provide feedback with regards to the content of the tutorial to each other. This then allows you to reflect on the feedback and potentially improve upon your own structure and content. In order to prepare you for this task, there will be a workshop that will take approximately 2 hours. Some material will be handed out during the workshop with further information.

The overall structure of the workshop will be as follows:

1. Workshop at the HDA: Introduction to peer observation, material handout and instructions.

2. Tutorial Visit: Tutors will be teaming up into pairs and joining each other's tutorials.

3. Discussion: Session for reflection between the all tutors involved in the workshop.

Workshop content includes:

• Goals and purpose of the observations.

• The process of observing, discussion of material and instructions.

• What criteria are there?

• What is constructive feedback?

• The feedback discussion process.

• Simulation of an observation via a video example.

You can find the self-study unit in the Moodlekurs HDA Tutor_innenqualifizierungen.. You are welcome to self-inscript.

Exchange and reflection at tutor meetings

At the tutor meetings you will have the opportunity to meet other tutors that are from your department and possibly from other departments at TU Darmstadt. Here you can reflect on being a tutor and exchange tips and tricks with other tutors when dealing with difficult scenarios.

In the 1.5 hour workshop, you will be meeting fellow tutors and speak on specific issues which will be guided by questions. The workshop is aimed at providing you with new ideas and suggestions to improve your skills to have a successful semester.

We offer a total of two tutor meetings:

• in the middle of the semester and;

• at the end of the semester.

Would you like to attend one or both meetings?

Melden Sie sich hier an.

Practical-oriented workshop – Short workshop for tutors and anyone interested

The practical- oriented workshop takes approximately 1.5 hours and topics within the subject tutor skills framework. The workshop is planned from scratch every semester to meet the specific needs of the participants.

Learn more

Further offers of the HDA

Are you also interested in our other tutor*in qualifications? You can also qualify as an orientation week tutor (orientation week tutor) and mentor or support our study projects as a team tutor. The study techniques contain useful tips for your successful studies