Meet our UCL Engineering Student Tutors: Ben Bavington-Allen, Engineering (Civil) MEng

What does being a UCL Engineering student tutor involve?  

It involves meeting once a week with a student and helping them learn. We cover specific subjects and material, but also look at the subjects in their wider context, and focus on general study skills and habits, which has been important to include. 

How has being a student tutor helped you? 

Being a student tutor has really helped me revisit what the nuts and bolts of learning are. I find that often the advice I’m giving I haven’t always been following 100% and that’s a great opportunity to reflect on my own study practice and behaviour. Also, and especially during the first lockdown, it has brought a tremendous feeling of purpose, [and has been] a really positive anchor point in my week. 

What's the best thing about being a student tutor? 

Undoubtably it has been that you get to work with the same tutee each week. You get to see them learn and improve, as you also learn and try to improve your sessions to best suit their learning style and particular interests. It’s challenging and no two sessions are exactly alike which makes it all the more interesting to be a part of. 

How has COVID-19 impacted upon your tutoring? 

A week or two before the pandemic hit I was visiting a school where I was due to begin tutoring. So in a sense for me COVID changed everything but also because I started properly doing all my sessions online it has very much become the norm. I had prior experience teaching and tutoring but it had always been in person so getting to grips with how to deliver material in an interactive way online was a big adjustment, but this also has a lot of potential benefits. 

...especially during the first lockdown, [tutoring has given me] a tremendous feeling of purpose, [and has been] a really positive anchor point in my week." “

What advice would you give to students considering taking part in tutoring/mentoring programmes? 

I would say that it is a great programme to be involved with. All the other tutors and staff involved have been extremely friendly and helpful to me so don’t be afraid to ask for suggestions on the big or small things, it’s very likely someone has encountered the same situation before. Also, be honest with yourself about your timetable and what is a reasonable commitment you could make. Preparing a session does take time, especially in the beginning when it may not only be the material but also the format, technology etc. that you need to become familiar with. And have fun with it! Some of the best interactions I’ve had with my tutee have been when I can tie into the material something interesting or (preferably) humorous. 

Why are such tutoring programmes needed? 

On the one hand they are probably needed more now than at any other time in my life. With schools being closed and often parents still working these programmes are so great at supplementing the teaching already taking place. On the other hand there is a personal aspect of tutoring that has always been valuable. The fact that it is one-to-one and open format means that it can be really flexible as to what the tutee needs. I think the emphasis on STEM is really helpful too as the fixed mindset around who is “good” or “bad” or who is “not a maths person” is still prevalent, and hopefully tutoring is helping change that for some students. 

Tell us something funny, unexpected or really special that has happened during your tutoring sessions?  

Fun things happen pretty regularly! But a special moment was my tutee getting moved to triple science [studying Biology, Chemistry and Physics separately at GCSE], that was personally very special to me. 

UCL Engineering student tutors are featured on page 6 of the UCL East Engagement Report 2019/20.

With thanks to Dr Elpida Makrygianni and Garance Mourgaud. 

Links 

• Engineering (Civil) MEng programme page. 

Image 

• Credit: Ben Bavington-Allen.