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It is normally taken for granted in academia that the person who is considered the leader is his/her field is the one who is entrusted with the task of imparting that knowledge to students. These persons are no doubt valuable resources. However, not all are blessed with the ability to teach. You may know your area inside out, but that does not necessarily mean that you can efficiently pass this information on to another.

There will be times that as a student you have the opportunity to decide who will guide you in your choosen course. When this is so you should seize the chance to critically assess your choices. There are certain issues that you should give serious thought. These include the following;

Although this is not the full picture, you still want a tutor who knows the material well. You can get a good idea by asking former students for feedback. For those at university you should also check to see what their publication history is like. This will include not only what they have published, but where they have published it. This gives a good indication of their standing among their colleagues.

Effective tutors know how to impart knowledge. This may be due to formal training in teaching methods or may just be a natural strength. Again, by doing some investigation you should be able to easily identify those with this ability. In doing so consider their approach and try to match that against how you know yourself to learn well. For example some may rely a lot on your own independence while others may spoon feed you a bit. Know what works for you and seek a tutor that suits that style.

Also consider personalities; not just that of your potential tutor, but also your own. Even with the most knowledgeable tutor, if you can't get along, you will be wasting valuable time and effort. A tutor's personality may also be reflected in their approach to teaching. Understanding yourself and how you learn best will help you to match your needs with the right tutor.

You should also evaluate the other commitments of your tutor. Are they so bogged down with other duties that you are likely to have access to them for just brief periods on an irregular basis? It is best to look for those who can guarantee a reasonable and consistent amount of interaction. Here you may have to compromise between the very best but most preoccupied tutor and those who are good and more flexible.

Yours for Learning

Learn more about this author, Roy Jacobs.
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