Central Arizona College
Fall 2010 Tutor Training
TemFuller
What is ZPD?
According to Vygotsky:
… the distance between the actual developmental
level as determined by independent problem
solving and the level of potential development as
determined through problem solving under adult
guidance or in collaboration with more capable
peers is the Zone of Proximal Development.
Works Cited
MLA Library (1896-1934). Lev Vygotsky Archive. Retrieved February 2010, from
Lev Vygotsky Archive: http://www.marxists.org/archive/vygotsky
Use the definition of ZPD
 What is the purpose of ZPD?
 Clarify the author’s point of view.
 Think about the voice of tutor and the voice of tutee
 Soon you will be the advanced peer who will help in
the zone of proximal development and beyond.
Scaffold for Tutors
Tutoring Cycle
Tutoring Cycle and ZPD
What is Scaffolding
 Scaffolds are temporal elements that provide safe
environment for the learning process.
 Scaffold is a supportive “structure” for learning
 Without clear structure and precisely stated
expectations, many students are lost in the ocean of
information.
 Therefore, the building of a scaffold is a major part of the
tutoring cycle.

MacDonal, R. (1994). The Master Tutor: A guidebook for more effective tutoring. ISNB 0-935-637-19-2: Library of Congress
Number 95-70557.
How to Build a Scaffold
 How the tutor will choose to build a scaffold depends on the student’s level of independence.
Step-bystep guide
DEPENDENT
The tutor works as a
coach in the process of
building a scaffolding.
The tutor works as an
academic mentor in the
process of building a
scaffold.
INDEPENDENT
Supervised Tutoring Form
Select all tutoring strategies used in this session. Be prepared to explain to your Personal Trainer how
exactly these strategies were used in the tutoring session.
___Effective communication ___Informal assessment
____Assessment of tutee’s learning orientations
___Scaffolding in the zone of proximal development
___Active and multisensory tutoring
___Meta-cognitive strategies
___Elements of the Tutoring Cycle (MacDonal, 1994)
___Other (list all additional strategies)
Describe the evidence of student’s level of independence.
___Strength based strategies
Why Does the Tutor Use a Scaffold?
 The student appear to know the material if they
know how to solve the problem.
 Sometimes this is true, but if this is not true, if the
student do not know the material, showing and
“explaining” the problem is not enough for
effective tutoring.
 Instead of solving the problem as a demonstration,
first engage the student into building a scaffold.
The reason is to transfer the learning power to
the student at some moment of your session.
What does the learning scaffold look like?
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It may be a set of questions
Mind map may be a very effective scaffold
A set of learning objectives is also a scaffold
A set of handouts as a plan for practicing
A concept map is a scaffold
A list of “to do”
What else?
What if?
 What if the tutor provide the entire scaffold for the
tutoring session?
 If the students can not build the scaffold, the tutor
needs to provide one.
 Even though we may offer clarity and structure,
the students must still do the entire work.
 The most important work is done by the student.
 The tutor simply provides the outer structure.
The Purpose of Scaffolding
 Scaffolding reduces uncertainty, surprise and
disappointment
 Scaffolding creates momentum
 Scaffolding delivers efficiency
 Scaffolding offers assessment to clarify
expectations
 Scaffolding keeps students on task
 Scaffolding clarifies purpose
Scaffolding As a Learning Strategy
 As a learning strategy, the scaffolding consists of tutoring
new skills by engaging the student in a dialog or inquiry
about the task that is difficult and challenging.
 The tutor initially provides extensive structural support, or
scaffolding, to continually assist the students in building
their understanding of new content and process.
 Once the students internalize the content and/or process,
they assume full responsibility for controlling the progress
of a given task.
 The temporary scaffolding needs to be removed to reveal
the impressive permanent structure of student
understanding.
Discipline Specific Scafolding
 Math
 Reading and Writing
Math or Science
 Tutoring Session
 In most case, you will not have just one question.
Build the Scaffold First
 Do not work the details of the first step before the entire
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scaffold is ready.
It is important to step back with the tutee and to plan
together the entire scaffold for the tutoring session.
Make a realistic and effective scaffold – if the student
needs to solve 50 problems, you need to make sure that in
50 minutes you will help with at least 5 – 6 problems.
A scaffold will help you to negotiate a realistic
accomplishment.
Do not promise more than you and the student can do in
50 minutes; however, plan to use the time for a memorable
and helpful tutoring session.
Work in small groups to make a scaffold for
this imaginary session
Your tutee have an assignment with 50 problems. The
student needs help with all problems. The material
covered in these problems can be grouped in three major
parts:
 Overview on Geometry
 Operations with Signed Numbers, and
 Equations with One Variable
Compare and Contrast Two
Tutoring Sessions
Listen to the Tutoring Session 1
Focus your attention on:
1. Scaffolding Techniques
2. Tutoring Cycle
Compare Tutoring Session 1 to this Tutoring Session 2
Focus your attention on:
1. Scaffolding Techniques
2. Tutoring Cycle
Resources
Davidson’s Films. (Director). (Mar 2, 2009 ). Vygotsky’s
Developmental theory: An introduction ()[Motion
Picture].
MacDonal, R. (1994). The Master Tutor: A guidebook for
more effective tutoring. ISNB 0-935-637-19-2: Library of
Congress Number 95-70557.
MLA Library (1896-1934). Lev Vygotsky Archive. Retrieved February
2010, from Lev Vygotsky Archive:
http://www.marxists.org/archive/vygotsky
Student Success Center (Jun 10, 2008). You Tube
Math Tutoring – the Right Way – You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLKXBHZemXQ
Writing Tutor – the Wrong Way (Jun 10, 2008). You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWs1JkpLmQI&feature=relat
ed
Writing Tutor – the Right Way (Jun 10, 2008). You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqVb_JTOVaU&feature=rel
ated
Any questions?