This document discusses critical thinking skills for tutors. It defines critical thinking as using intelligence and knowledge to carefully explore situations and arrive at thoughtful conclusions based on evidence and reason. Tutors should model critical thinking and problem solving for students during sessions. They can get students to think critically by teaching them to ask relevant questions, examine ideas from different perspectives, and support conclusions with evidence. The document provides an example method ("GRASS") for analyzing problems and offers tips for making students independent learners after tutoring ends, such as providing step-by-step instructions for common problem types.

1. Critical Thinking, Communication
& Problem Solving
Peer Tutor Training created by Natasha Ford
Student Academic Resource Center
University of Central Florida

2. CRITICAL THINKING
Modeling effective problem solving for students

3. • Critical thinking is…
• the ability for a person to use his/her intelligence,
knowledge and skills to question and carefully explore
situations to arrive at thoughtful conclusions based on
evidence and reason.
• Let’s Discus…
• How does this relate to tutoring?
• When do we use critical thinking during tutoring?
• When do our tutees use critical thinking during
tutoring?
What is Critical Thinking?

4. • Think Actively by using our intelligence, knowledge, and skills to
question, explore, and deal effectively with ourselves, others, and
life's situations.
• Carefully Explore Situations by asking--and trying to answer--
relevant questions.
• Think for Ourselves by carefully examining various ideas and
arriving at our own thoughtful conclusions.
• View Situations from Different Perspectives to develop an in-
depth, comprehensive understanding.
• Support Diverse Perspectives with Reason and Evidence to arrive
at thoughtful, well-substantiated conclusions.
Getting students to think critically

5. • Now that we understand
CT… How do we get
our tutees to use these
skills to approach their
classes independently?
• Quick examples from
tutoring in your subject
groups
• Teaching them to fish!
• What works for you
(Think, Pair, Share)
Modeling Problem Solving

6. • E.g. The GRASS method - allows you to analyze the question, see
what is required and solve the problem easily and efficiently.
• This is one method that does not give the student the answer, but
gives them the recipe for how to find the answer on their own.
• This fulfills our goal of equipping students to succeed on their own.
Modeling Problem Solving

7. • Take the survival preparedness quiz
• If there were no more tutors in the world tomorrow but your
students still had to pass their classes based on your
support…what would your students need to survive without
you?
Run for your life….
It’s the Tutor Apocalypse!

8. Make a list of “Important Survival Tips for Life After Tutors”
• 1. Choose an upcoming topic in your subject.
• 2. Break down how to approach any of this type of problem.
• This should be questions that students can always ask
themselves when they are faced with these types of questions
• 3. Clearly write down the steps needed to illustrate how to
think critically about the problem.
• 4. Think back to the “elements” of critical thinking
Problem Solving For
Your Subject Matter

9. • This could include:
• Step-by-step problem
solving
• Independent learning
techniques
• Questions students
should ask themselves
• Helpful tricks/tips to
approach studying
• Be prepared to share…
prizes for the best
group!
Some Survival Tactics…

10. Tutor Apocalypse Survival Sample!