Future Learning and Development offers tutor training for postgraduate students who take on teaching and demonstrating roles at UC. We offer workshops twice a year, just before the start of each semester. Learn more about our tutor training.
Future Learning and Development offers tutor training for postgraduate students who take on teaching and demonstrating roles at UC. We offer workshops twice a year, just before the start of each semester.
Please note that these workshops do not cover department or HR specific requirements, such as first aid, health and safety, or procedures around submitting timesheets.
TRAINING SESSIONS
DATE, TIME & LOCATION
New Tutor Essentials
This session is aimed at new tutors and demonstrators without prior teaching experience and covers general teaching techniques, large and small group teaching, creating a positive classroom climate and classroom management, question asking / answering strategies; typical scenarios that tutors / demonstrators may face in their teaching duties and intervention strategies.
This session has some overlap with the Lab supervision and problem-solving sessions workshop & Advanced Tutor Practice workshop, so students should not enrol in multiple workshops.
Tuesday 7th July, 2026
2-4pm, Beatrice Tinsley 111
Wednesday 15th July, 2026
10am - 12pm, Beatrice Tinsley 105
Advanced Tutor Practice
This session is aimed at those who have completed the New Tutor Essentials training or are experienced tutors. We discuss in more depth topics around the responsibilities of tutoring, engaging students, techniques to make student thinking visible, and creating and maintaining culturally inclusive and safe learning environments.
This session has some overlap with the New Tutor Essentials workshop, so students should not enrol in both.
Wednesday 8th July, 2026
2pm - 4pm, Ernest Rutherford 141
Monday 13th July, 2026
2pm - 4pm, Beatrice Tinsley 105
Lab supervision and problem-solving sessions tutor training
This session is aimed primarily at students in engineering and science who supervise undergraduate students in labs or tutorials involving solving (mathematical) problem sets, but who do little whole-class teaching. The focus is on working with individual students and small groups. Topics include managing and setting expectations, question asking strategies, approachability, facilitation of appropriate group dynamics, and the creation of emotionally and physically safe learning environments. Note that this workshop does not include lab health and safety.
This session has some overlap with the New Tutor Essentials workshop, so students should not enrol in both.
Thursday 9th July, 2026
10am - 12pm, Ernest Rutherford 141
Tuesday 14th July, 2026
10am - 12pm, Beatrice Tinsley 105
Cultural Awareness
This workshop explores the importance of culture in teaching. We will explore what it means to be a tutor within the context of Aotearoa New Zealand as a bicultural nation, and the UC Values as a Treaty-led organisation. We will explore the interactions between our own and our students' cultures to provide teaching strategies that promote bicultural competence and confidence, increase tutor-student rapport and promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the classroom.
Wednesday 15th July, 2026
10am - 12pm, Ernest Rutherford 141
Thursday 16th July, 2026
10am - 12pm, Rehua 103
The practical tips and group discussions were very helpful.
Enjoyed the group discussions. Helpful reminders and best practice for us to think about.
Great to know the key responsibilities as a tutor and the scenarios discussion is really helpful. Thank you!
The session was incredibly helpful. We got practical insights and were also given the space to think on our feet. I especially appreciated the discussion around emerging issues, including AI.
