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25-3041.00 · Learning planner

Tutors: a task-based learning plan

Instruct individual students or small groups of students in academic subjects to support formal class instruction or to prepare students for standardized or admissions tests.

Explore the complete task inventory first →

Understand the profile before choosing priorities

The table shows the ten highest importance ratings among 26 skills with usable ratings. Skills tied on importance can share a rank. Importance (1–5) and level (0–7) describe different dimensions. A level of 4 is not 4/7 of a course, and neither scale is your personal score. Source dates refer to the underlying rating, not the database release date.

SkillImportance / 5Level / 7Rating date
Reading Comprehension4.124.0008/2022 · Analyst
Instructing4.123.8808/2022 · Analyst
Active Listening4.004.0008/2022 · Analyst
Speaking4.003.8808/2022 · Analyst
Learning Strategies4.003.8808/2022 · Analyst
Critical Thinking3.753.7508/2022 · Analyst
Social Perceptiveness3.753.1208/2022 · Analyst
Writing3.623.7508/2022 · Analyst
Active Learning3.623.5008/2022 · Analyst
Complex Problem Solving3.623.1208/2022 · Analyst

Anchor the plan in an actual task

Choose one reported task you want to understand better. Then choose one to three skills and describe an appropriate learning activity, evidence you will review and a date. For practical work requiring authorization, choose relevant coursework, observation or supervised training.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for tutors.

Level 4: Understand an email from management describing new personnel policies

Level 2: Read step-by-step instructions for completing a form

Which instruction, constraint or exception in a document would you need to explain accurately?

Instructing

Teaching others how to do something.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for tutors.

Level 4: Instruct a coworker in how to operate a software program

Level 2: Instruct a new employee in the use of a timekeeping system

How would you explain one step, observe a practice attempt and give useful feedback?

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for tutors.

Level 4: Answer inquiries regarding credit references

Level 2: Take a customer's order

What would you ask the other person to clarify, and how would you confirm you understood?

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for tutors.

Level 4: Interview applicants to obtain personal and work history

Level 2: Greet tourists and explain tourist attractions

How would you explain the task, audience needs and next step in a short conversation?

Learning Strategies

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for tutors.

Level 4: Identify an alternative approach to help trainees who are having difficulties

Level 2: Learn a different method of completing a task from a coworker

Which practice activity and feedback would help you learn this task, and how would you check progress?

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for tutors.

Level 4: Evaluate customer complaints and determine appropriate responses

Level 2: Determine whether a subordinate has a good excuse for being late

What assumption could change your conclusion, and what evidence would you check first?

Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for tutors.

Level 4: Be aware of how a coworker's promotion will affect a work group

Level 2: Notice that customers are angry because they have been waiting too long

What perspective or concern might another person bring to this task?

Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for tutors.

Level 4: Write an email to staff outlining new directives

Level 2: Write down a guest's order at a restaurant

What document would another person need, and how would you check that they could act on it?

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for tutors.

Level 4: Determine the impact of new menu changes on a restaurant's purchasing requirements

Level 2: Think about the implications of a news article for job opportunities

What new information would change your approach, and how would you record the change?

Complex Problem Solving

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for tutors.

Level 4: Redesign a floor layout to take advantage of new manufacturing techniques

Level 2: Lay out tools to complete a job

How would you separate the problem into parts and compare possible explanations?

Review the result

Your plan should explain why the selected skills matter for your chosen task, what you will do next and what evidence you will examine. Revisit the plan after that activity. Completing a worksheet or matching an occupation’s ratings does not establish professional competence.

Keep your worksheet

Download before leaving this page. Unsaved writing remains only in the page and is cleared on refresh. Notes and learning actions are not sent to a server. This guide describes an occupation and supports study planning; it does not provide clinical, legal or equipment-operating procedures.

Source and practice material

Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.

Skill Workbench selected and adapted the occupational information and added its own fictional cases, calculations, guidance and worksheets. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.