The multiple roles of the tutor in a problem based learning cohort in a teacher education program

Abstract

The three tutors in PBL at UBC are Frank Baumann, a retired administrator; Lori Prodan, a seconded classroom teacher from the Vancouver School District; and Monika Tarampi, a seconded district teacher, from the Langley School District. In this chapter they provide an overview of the multiple and complex roles of the tutors in a PBL cohort in a teacher education program. They explicate what it means to be a provocateur responsible for provoking awareness, interest, and motivation to develop preservice teachers’ skills, knowledge, and understandings of teaching. They, specifically, discuss their role in creating the learning environment, their use of Socratic questioning, and their part in the assessment and evaluation of preservice teachers and most importantly describe with examples their pivotal role in conducting the 2-week case inquiry cycle (which includes the 1-day a week, the 2-week, and 10-week school-based practica) where they work as field-based faculty advisors.