One of the essential characteristics of effective tutoring is that you have clear expectations from the start. We have created a model tutoring agreement for you, which you can use with your scientific researchers to make communication clearer and more effective. After making this document your own, you should conclude this agreement with new researchers at your first meeting. Explaining these details clearly at the beginning of a student`s research experience could result in a multitude of benefits, including preserving expensive equipment, preventing poor communication, contributing to a student`s sense of belonging, increasing student productivity and independence, and streamlining the research process. This agreement describes the expectations and objectives as well as the specifics of the relationship. See our sample of the tutoring agreement (PDF). The agreement should include contact information (including preferred methods and time), the definition of a meeting plan, the definition of the objectives and objectives of both parties, the setting of progress review dates and a termination date. Once this is negotiated and completed, you are ready to start your tutoring partnership. « Students really appreciate the tutoring agreement.
Each student goes to one of our first meetings with me on the agreement and we adapt it to their own style of communication, research project, etc. » – Dr. Michelle Kutzler, Animal – Rangeland Sciences « The model tutoring agreement has provided a solid basis for getting excited, me and my bachelor`s researcher, for success. The model was easy to modify and allowed me and my mentor to incorporate additional details if necessary. We have pointed this out several times! » – Dr. Barbara Brody, Extension The biggest challenge for your partnership is the commitment of time. Keep in mind that this agreement is taken into account in addition to the professional and personal calendar and that the tutoring partnership requires time, energy and work to ensure its success. To reconcile these aspects, close agreement and structured meetings can minimize the waste of time and energy. By entering into the partnership, you have already guaranteed your commitment, so you simply need tools to keep up. These preparations can help minimize potential frustrations. How are we going to cope with the other big challenge of maintaining this momentum and keeping time? The second official meeting will set development goals.
All subsequent appointments will benefit from a well-established criteria for productive achievement, including reviewing development goals and conducting progress tests. This is the long-term content of the tutoring process.