Free tutoring is available to all students on campus.
The tutors are fellow students that excel in a particular subject and choose to use their abilities to help others who may struggle in that subject.
“I chose to become a tutor because I wanted to help those who found math to be a difficult topic,” said Sophomore tutor David Tyner, “After, I found that it was a great way to meet people.”
Professors are often hard to catch even during office hours and they are going to help you using the same method as the first time when you did not understand. It helps students to hear another teaching style.
Sophomore tutor, Megan Bledsoe, said, “Many professors that I have talked to have told me that students who tutor often benefit more than the students they tutor because they have to think of different ways to explain concepts. By doing that they can learn the material backwards, forwards and sideways.”
The tutors are also more convenient than meeting with your professor. They are available to help you more often and can meet with you in a comfortable office rather than an office, or a classroom.
“I feel more comfortable seeking help from peers because they often understand what I am struggling with,” said freshman Chris Hohman. “I also think it is easier to contact students because there are more of them and they usually have their phones on them.”
Senior tutor David Prihoda said degrees make professors seem intimidating and students are afraid to come to them with minor questions. Even though the professors are usually more than willing to help it is much easier to contact a peer.
“It’s a matter of relation. Professors are an invaluable asset whose minds should always be picked for insight and guidance, but a fellow student helps, potentially, ease any anxiety stemming from the teacher/student dynamic,” he said. “There is no PhD in the way that might look intimidating. Tutors are students, too, and they know what it’s like to feel uncomfortable looking for help.”
Prihoda said tutoring benefits both parties involved. It provides the tutor with a review, and gives the student seeking help another way to gain study skills and habits.
“A tutor learns how he or she, individually and personally, can consistently create an atmosphere conducive to progress and openness, and how to yield results therein,” he said.
Of course the main reason is to improve the skills and increase the knowledge of students struggling in their classes. The ultimate goal is to bring the students to a point where they understand the concepts and perform well on their own.
“The help I received from tutoring really helped me understand all of the homework, and understand everything for exams,” said Bradley Bleich, Sophomore.
Tutoring is an excellent resource for students on campus and benefits both parties involved. When students teach other students it creates a new kind of learning environment that stimulates the mind in a new way.
“I love to help others, especially when you get a glimpse of the smile they have on their face and how it brightens up for a small moment because they actually understand it,” said Tyner.