The Challenge
SQL programming is easier to learn with feedback on each attempt. In a busy module, students often wait for office hours to find out where a query went wrong, and lose momentum while they wait.
How Dr Sankaranarayanan Works with Mindjoy
Dr Raj Sankaranarayanan is a Postdoctoral Fellow in Academic Affairs with a background in instructional systems technology. He built a tutor aligned to his SQL module and to the way he teaches.
- The tutor works from his course and learning objectives, so its help matches what students are learning in class.
- He built practice problems that grow with student progress.
- Students get feedback on each attempt that reflects his teaching style, so they learn from their mistakes straight away.
- The tutor supports students at every level, alongside his classroom teaching rather than in place of it.
The Impact
In one SQL module, a single tutor gave every student support at their own pace. Students quickly made it the first place they went for help, getting feedback on practice problems at any hour instead of waiting for office hours.
What started as one lecturer's experiment has led colleagues to explore building tutors for their own teaching.
