Analysing the one-to-one tutorial: A conversation analysis approach

Tutor: So, essay writing… Student: Yeah. How do you do that? This workshop sheds light on what happens behind the closed door of the academic skills tutorial. Using Conversation Analysis we identify defining characteristics of tutorial dialogues; in particular we investigate how talk is used to establish goals, reflect power relations, confirm roles/identities, achieve neutrality and offer correction/repair. Arising from discussions within the Learning Development community around the lack of CPD opportunities and resources for new entrants to the profession, this project provides empirical research in this area and will be of value for the professional development of learning developers. After a brief introduction to the project, participants will have the opportunity to analyse dialogue extracts from authentic academic skills one-to-one tutorials in terms of the organisation of the tutorial conversation, the establishing of relationships and identities and how learning occurs. There will also be opportunity to reflect on aspects of academic tutorial conversation and consider how the dialogue extracts may be exploited for further use in the CPD of LD practitioners. This interactive workshop will provide insights into features of productive (or otherwise) individual tutorials and as a result be a useful training resource for learning development professionals. This in turn will impact on the student experience by contributing to the development of a reflective community of practitioners and evidence-informed practice