On Tuesday September 24, Laika Olwana (Tutor Representative 2023-2025) hosted a Digital Roundtable named “SSWCA 101: For Tutors.” The session was the beginning of a series of Digital Roundtables designed to support SSWCA member tutors as they grow into attending our annual conference in March, or publishing to the Journal of Peer Tutoring in Secondary Schools.
Also in attendance were SSWCA’s new Tutor Representatives: Adham from Virginia & Madelyn
from Pennsylvania!
We spent the first couple of minutes talking about what SSWCA’s mission is, and how we can
support your throughout your conference application and presentation. Attendees with various
experience levels all shared their advice on building a presentation. Here are some highlight
moments:
Generating ideas?
● Lean on your peers on brainstorming topics; presenting with a partner can often help
because you have someone to bounce ideas off of
● To narrow down options: try a “brain dump” and write anything that comes to mind based
on the Call for Proposal questions
● Consider ways your center is unique, or a problem you have recently addressed in a
unique way
● Read published research (in JPTSS or other journals) and try to blend your personal
experiences with them
Preparing for the conference?
● Attend/research other conference sessions before you present – will help you know what
to expect, or give you ideas for how to connect to other ideas being discussed at the
conference!
● Madelyn (PA) noted that when working with a partner, schedule time weekly to set goals
and dedicate time to the presentation.
● Practice practice practice! You reveal any bugs in your speech or slideshow, and work
them out before!
The SSWCA Views from the Trail Conference will be held March 21st and 22nd in Provo, Utah.
We hope to see you there!