RAPPORT
Issue 5 (August 2020)
upgrading to Gold from their initial
designation,
• 78% of statements mentioning
student support for upgraded Gold
award providers linked student
support and personalised learning.
• There was also mention of how
student support was being tailored to
support different student groups, with
40% of statements referring to how
the provider was supporting either
non-traditional students, students at
risk of non-continuation or students
with disabilities.
In short, the development of effective
personal tutoring and academic advising
practices to a high standard and their
evaluation followed by their dissemination
enhance the reputation of any institution.
Of course, within all of the debates that
there have been about what constitutes
‘excellent teaching’ there remains a
discussion to be had about what
constitutes ‘excellent’ personal tutoring
and academic advising – both face-toface
and online.
Conclusion
By following Gibbs’ 15 steps it is possible
to demonstrate how a sustainable
strategy or policy for personal tutoring and
academic advising can be developed that
is grounded and sensitive to particular
institutional and discipline contexts.
Although there is only slight mention of
personal tutoring and academic advising
within Gibbs’ article, it is clear from a
review of the CRA/SEDA Programme
portfolios that personal tutoring and
academic advising are central to building
the crucial relationships between students
and tutors; students and other students
and students with their institutions and
courses. This centrality becomes even
more important as an increasing number
of institutions and courses rely even more
on online tutoring.
Huge thanks to Rob Ward for commentary on an
earlier draft.
References
Barton, D. (2020) How do we future-proof
personal tutoring? Educational
Developments, 20(5): 14-17)
Cambridge, D., Kaplan, S. & Suter, V.
(2005) Step-by-Step Guide for
Designing and Cultivating Communities
of Practice. Educause. At:
library.educause.edu/resources/2005/1/
community-of-practice-design-guide-astepbystep-guide-for-designingcultivating-communities-of-practice-inhigher-education
(accessed
28.05.2020)
Crouch, R. & Barrett, R. (2006) Issues for
online personal tutoring: Staff
perceptions from an online distance
learning programme. In Thomas, L. &
Hixenbaugh, P. (eds.) (2006), Personal
Tutoring in Higher Education. Stoke-on-
Trent, UK: Trentham Books
Donoghue, S. (2007) Leadership and
Strategy. In S. Marshall, (ed.) Strategic
Leadership of Change in Higher
Education – What’s New? Abingdon,
Oxon: Routledge
Gibbs, G (2009) Developing students as
learners – varied phenomena, varied
contexts and a developmental
trajectory for the whole endeavour.
Journal of Learning Development in
Higher Education, Issue 1: 1-12
Lochtie, D., McIntosh, E., Stork, A. &
Walker, B. (2018) Effective Personal
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