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Physics
Tutorial Center
Tutor Responsibilities
- Arrive on time – The schedule is clearly posted,
both on the door to the PTC and on the Web.
You are responsible for arriving on time just as you would be for any
class you may teach or job you may work. If you are unable to meet your
hours, make arrangements with another tutor to cover your shift, and
get approval from the PTC coordinator. In an emergency situation due
to illness, etc., contact Dr. Parks or failing that, Pam Carter.
- Work diligently – When there are no tutees
requiring your attention, make use of your time in the tutorial center
by working out problems that professors have assigned as homework. These
will be the problems tutees most often want help with. Professors will
be encouraged to submit a list of homework questions to the PTC, and
a notebook will be provided for completed solutions to be bound in.
This will assist both you and other tutors.
- Help tutees learn – Try to provide tutees
with the tools to solve problems independently in the future. Go through
the problem with the tutee, asking them to explain their reasoning at
each step. This helps tutees learn the process by which physics problems
can be solved; this is far more valuable than the answer to any particular
problem. Do not solve the problem for the tutee, it teaches them nothing.
- Maintain honesty – If you are unsure of the
solution to a problem, admit it. Work with the student to try to find
the solution in other textbooks, online, etc. This helps the tutee develop
good study habits. If you are having difficulty working with a particular
tutee, politely recommend they try seeing a tutor who is better suited
to their personal needs. This applies for tutees who need problems broken
down in different ways (mathematically, visually, etc.), as well as
tutees who require a large amount of patience.
- Be professional – When tutees come into the
PTC, let them know you are available to assist them. Be sure they have
the feeling that they are free to ask you questions, and not interrupting
something else you’re working on. When you receive complaints
from the tutees about their professors, TAs, other tutors, etc., be
understanding, but don’t undermine your coworkers. Encourage the
students to take up their grievances with the appropriate people (Dr.
Sorensen, Dr. Parks, the PTC coordinator, etc.) if they feel strongly
about the issue.
- Enjoy your work – The single best way to learn
physics is to teach it to someone else. Congratulations! You are now
receiving the best education we can pay you for!
Physics Tutorial Center Main Page
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