Motivational techniques of expert human tutors: Lessons for the design of computer-based tutors

Abstract

examine the actions of actual human tutors as a potential source of information relevant to the design of effective computer tutors focus on a set of issues that are not commonly addressed in current computer-based tutoring systems, but which appear critical to successful human tutors—the motivational, affective, socioemotional side of effective tutorials examine some of the strategies that expert human tutors appear to employ to accomplish these goals with their students [strategies for enhancing confidence and challenge, maintaining a sense of challenge, bolstering of self-confidence, evoking curiosity and promoting a sense of personal control] cite examples of [expert tutors’] comments during actual tutoring sessions, as well as during stimulated-recall interviews first group of tutors . . . worked with second graders on addition with carrying two other groups of tutors worked with 4th, 5th, and 6th graders on one of two mathematics games for the computer / a final sample of tutors taught complex word problems to 3rd and 4th grade students.