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Why sign up for tutoring?
I must be biased, because my immediate answer is Why not? If I could, I would break into song right now about what a wonderful service tutoring is and how lucky you are to be at Appalachian, where free tutoring is provided for most introductory level courses. But let's remember that I am a study skills guru, and tutoring (the very best form of tutoring) is all about using the very best of study methods.
By tutoring, I am not talking about a one time session where you drop in and some expert gives you the one answer you were looking for and you walk away enlightened forever. That can happen, and we do have some drop in help labs, but the tutoring I love is the one-on-one (or small group) tutoring appointments you sign up for in 208 D.D. Dougherty. You and your tutor would meet every week (once or twice a week). (Can you already see what I like? You are studying all the way along, not just right before the test. And, my studies show that students are most successful when they study on their own AND with others. So if you study on your own, clarify some questions, review, etc., and then go in for your tutoring appointment, you will be way ahead of the game).
The tutors are students who have done well in the subject. They can share with you study tips that worked for them, ways of understanding the material and organizing it so you will remember it. Again, study skills, study skills, study skills!
Ideally, they will quiz you on what you know, and help you see what you may be getting wrong. If your tutor isn't quizzing you very much, I encourage you to ask them to. You want to avoid the situation in which you sit passively and listen while the tutor does all of the talking, because we already know the tutor could pass the test. We want you to reach the point where you can explain it all!
Now, of course, I realize you don't need tutoring for every class (sigh… can you see how much I love tutoring?), but if there is any class where you feel it might help, please consider signing up, and sign up early. Tutoring is not a last minute fix-it's a semester long study plan that helps you succeed. And more often than not, the experience brings you skills and knowledge that help you succeed in other classes without tutoring later on.
For more information on our tutoring services, check out this website: www.tutoring.appstate.edu
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