The UW–Madison Tutor Development Conference is held each semester by the Learning Support Committee as a free professional development event for tutors and mentors from across campus. The conference provides training on topics relating to tutoring, student support and well-being, and creating inclusive educational environments.
The Fall 26 Tutor Development Conference is Sunday, September 13. Register here
The Spring 27 Tutor Development Conference is Sunday, January 24
Sunday, September 13 Tutor Conference Schedule
11:30 – 12 pm: Check in and boxed lunch available
12 – 12:50 pm: All Conference Workshop (Symphony Room)
- Difficult feelings, powerful insights: Countertransference in the tutoring relationship with Bob Wiedenhoeft
- Why are some tutoring sessions more draining than others? Why do some appointments stir confusing emotions in the tutor, while others do not? Why do tutors have favorite students, and is that okay? Tutors need not feel guilty; these are common experiences that can provide tutors with insights on their own needs and the needs of their students. By applying the concept of countertransference, this session introduces a framework to help tutors understand the tutoring relationship. More importantly, participants will leave with practical strategies to improve their tutoring. These strategies will help tutors transform countertransference into self-compassion, self-care, and empathy while maintaining focus on supporting the student.
1 – 1:50 pm: Choose a breakout session to attend
- Career Fair Preparation with Tara Milliken (Concerto Room)
- Planning to attend one or more career fairs this fall? Join this session to review strategies and tips for connecting with employers and insights on how to make the most of each interaction.
- Giving and Receiving Feedback with Adrien Chu Burnette (Symphony Room)
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Knowing how to give and receive feedback—information, comments, or suggestions about someone’s behavior—is essential to building an effective tutoring practice. Whether it’s between yourself and the students you support, your fellow tutors, or even your supervisor, it’s guaranteed that you will run into situations where you’ll either need to give or receive feedback. In this workshop, you will reflect on best (and worst!) practices for giving and receiving feedback; learn tips for doing both effectively; and apply these strategies to a series of common tutoring scenarios.
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- Becoming Better Tutors: Stocking Your Toolbox with More Effective Strategies with Drew Lokuta (Overture Room)
- During this session, participants will receive a brief introduction to brain function and thus an appreciation of why some study strategies are more powerful than others. Specifically, we will reinforce the idea that students must connect with and make sense of information before they try to make answers to assessment questions. This information directly impacts the advice and assistance that tutors and academic coaches should be providing to their students. Repetition and memorization are the default basis of learning for our students. Attendees will better understand how these are both useful and limiting practices for mastery of academic content. Neuroscience research has revealed that there are more powerful ways to learn and remember. This information forms the basis of a toolbox filled with new study strategies that can be discussed and recommended to students.
2-2:50 pm: Choose a breakout session to attend
- Chem 103 + 104 – Curriculum Changes with Christopher Hughes (Symphony Room)
- Come learn about updates for Chemistry tutors, including the major curriculum changes in Chem 103 and 104. We’ll explore the new approach to teaching and learning chemistry and provide opportunities to practice supporting students in this updated framework. If you are tutoring chemistry this fall, you should plan to attend this session.
- Academic Grief: Supporting Tutees through Setbacks and Disappointment with Michelle Bond (Overture Room)
- From low grades to changing career plans, academic grief can take many forms. Come learn how to support your tutees when they experience these setbacks and skills for supporting yourself during these heavy moments.
- Experienced Tutor Panel (Concerto Room)
- New to tutoring? Ask our experienced tutors questions and listen to helpful advice, strategies, and tips about tutoring and study skills. You’ll have the chance to brainstorm solutions to common tutoring situations with fellow tutors.
3 – 3:45 pm: Housing Tutors Meet (Overture Room)