Peer Tutor Training

1. BRAIN
DOMINANCE
LEARNING
Multiple Intelligences & Tutoring Creatively
Peer Tutor Training
Developed by Natasha Ford & Catherine Siew
Student Academic Resource Center, University of Central Florida
Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services

2. The Brain and Dominant
Learning
 Research indicates:
 the left side of the brain is
the seat of language and
processes in a logical and
sequential order.
 the right side is more visual
and processes
intuitively, holistically, and
randomly.
 Most people seem to have
one dominant side.
Image
 Our dominance is a Source
preference, not an

3. Stress + Learning
 When learning is  How this Affects
new, difficult, or stressful Tutoring:
we tend to PREFER to  Make strides to keep
learn in a certain way. stress levels down
 When not stressed: during tutoring
 The brain uses the sessions
hippocampus which is  Understand your
important for long-term audience or students’
memory unique stressors
 When stressed:  Be open and
 The brain works harder and welcoming
uses a complex approach  Allow a safe space for
that uses a different
memory system mistakes &
experiments
 Keep it at a peer level

4. Brain Dominance: Left Brain
 Dominant Left Brain  Tutoring Implications:
Learning Favors:  Clarity in vocabulary
 Language  Step-by-step problem
 Logic
solving
 Determine logical response
 Critical thinking
by not giving the answer
 Numbers
 Do example problems as
 Reasoning well as provide general
 Absolutes: Facts & equations
Truth  Understanding the “why”
behind it is important
 Show how to arrive at a
solution

5. Brain Dominance: Right Brain
 Dominant Right Brain  Tutoring Implications:
Learning Favors:  Familiarity/Relational
 Facial communication  Body language
 Expressed emotions
 Professionalism
 Reading emotions
 Visuals/Organization
 Color
 Drawings/Diagrams
 Images
 Creativity  Mnemonics
 Reading between the
lines

6. Think-Pair-Share Discussion
 Learning is strengthened when we incorporate
diverse learning strategies into our tutoring
practice – especially from our less-dominant
hemisphere
 Challenge! Discuss Brain Dominant Learning
with a Partner:
 What fascinated you about what you just learned?
 How have you been applying modifications for various
types of learners in your tutoring to date ?
 How will you alter your practice to incorporate brain
dominance theory?

7. Are You a Righty or a Lefty?
 Complete the Brain Dominance Self-Test.
 Partner with an opposite brain dominant
learner to complete the activity on the
following slide.

8. Video Session Evaluations
 Watch one to two of the YouTube videos linked
on the following slide
 As you watch…
 look for varied learning styles used in these
sessions
 Complete the SARC Peer Tutor Observation form
thinking about all components of tutoring.
 Focus on any modified techniques for various
styles of learning that you see or don’t see in the
video.
 Highlight what is done well?

9. There are MANY Learning
Styles
 Left and Right Brain Dominance are just a few…
 Multiple Intelligences
 Information Processing
 Learning Styles (auditory, visual, etc.)
 And then some
 Example: Some people go with gut feelings on
tests. Others write out all the steps in order to get
to the right answer, paying attention to notation or
punctuation.
 How do we explain this?

10. Logical vs. Intuitive Processing
 Processes information  Use intuition
in a  Get right answer to
linear, sequential, logic math problem, but not
al manner sure how you arrived at
 Uses information piece answer
by piece to solve  Start with answer and
problem work backwards
 When reading/listening  Decisions based on
look for pieces to draw feelings
logical conclusions
 Decisions based on
logical proof

11. Resources for Further Study
 Brain Dominance
 Hemispheric Dominance
 What is your Brain Dominance?
 Learning Styles
 SARC Prezi on Learning Styles
 Right or Left Brain?
 Multiple Intelligences
 PBS’ Overview on MI