Holistic curriculum development: tutoring as a support process

Abstract

In many programmes, tutorials have proved to be an effective way of providing
both academic and personal support. The tutor's role in these involves different aspects of teaching and learning. In this article I explore the value of tutoring as a means of supporting the holistic curriculum development process. I reflect on the reason for introducing a system of tutoring for students in curriculum studies and the results of its implementation on students' academic performance, in order to contribute to a better understanding of this kind of intervention. A summary of empirical data on the implementation of the tutor system and feedback on the system and tutors' reflections on the process are provided. Finally, the outcomes of the implementation of tutoring on the students\' performance at the end of the academic year are discussed.

Keywords: academic performance; first-year students; holistic curriculum
development; tutoring

South African Journal of Education Vol. 29 (1) 2009: pp. 17-32