Ruben


 * Photography 11 **

==== **Bio: Grade 12 / Peer tutoring in Ms. Guun's Photography 11. / photo geek / dream camera is Leica M9 / a crazy fan of Chelsea Football Club** ====

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==== **Week 1:** It had been an interesting week being involved as a tutor in Photography 11. I found the students had eclectic goals on the course. Some students were taking the course to satisfy the credit requirements in order to graduate, while some of them had an enthusiastic desire to become young photographers. It was exciting to become a peer tutor in an area where I had the confidence to teach and help students who needed assistance. I was daunted by the first day of the class because I expected there would be students I might know. However, I found that there was no one I could actually chat with as a friend. It felt as if I was a new student arriving from somewhere else, except I had to act with some leadership. Luckily, all the students in the class were very amiable, so I could easily communicate with them and even had a chance to make some friends. Being a tutor in the class was like having the shoe on the other foot because two years ago, I used be a student in photography class, and now I was a tutor directing the students. Having responsibility for the students was pretty heavy for me. I didn't know what to do when so many students all at once asked me questions about theories, since I didn't know whom I should answer first. I realized then that being a teacher would be a tough job! The first week of peer tutoring went pretty well as I assisted Ms. Guun helping to roll films and helped students who were panicking about the projects they were working on. It was a nice week to start the peer tutoring in Photography 11 and I would hope to have many good times with the class ====

==== **Week 2:** Enjoying classes with students who wanted to learn more about photography was a great opportunity to interact with students and share thoughts on various topics. This week, I saw many students struggling because they were shy to ask a question or felt panicked about what to do. Since I remembered the first day of school at Gleneagle and how cooperating with unfamiliar people is challenging, I tried my best to provide one-on-one support by communicating with and assisting each student. I thought voluntarily approaching students and offering help would be a better way than just waiting for student to come and ask questions to me. When students had time to work on projects, I walked around and asked them if they needed assistance. This approach finally met with success as the students appreciated how I helped them. It was nice to hear their thanks and it also made me proud that I could be of service to another student needing help. The past weekend with Photography 11 offered me valuable experience in understanding the struggles that students experience and I realized that I should continue helping others out. ====

====  ** Week 3: ** This week, I assisted students, encouraging them to have fun in photo enlargement, film development, and group activities. Interacting with students was still a challenge for me; most of them called me for help, but I met students who were not willing to ask question. My biggest regret was that I wasn’t able for find a way to be more at their level of interest, so that I could make photography class that would connect with me. Though understanding their interests was tough, I tried my best to provide one-on-one support by cheering their works. Eventually, my approach finally brought me in success that most of students started to come and ask me questions. It was really nice to interact with young photographers and gave me a valuable lesson that I should be more involved with students to make a better environment. ====

====Having a major responsibility in this class made me think that I was not only just a student who learns, but more like a teacher who is there to help others learn. One day, Ms.Guun told me to take students in the darkroom and teach them how to make test strips, a short strip of photo paper to determine the right exposure for proof sheets. The task weighed heavy on me because it was my first time teaching students directly without the teacher’s direction. When I entered the darkroom, there were students staring at me and wanting me to explain instructions on how to finish the work.As I demonstrated the process, I started having doubts about whether I was doing it right or not. Nonetheless, I told ten students to follow my lead. When Ms. Guun came to the dark room, she said my method was wrong and all the students had to redo their work. At that moment, it was embarrassing that I, the one who was supposed to be the knowledgeable one, made such a mistake. After this mishap, I realized being a peer tutor is a huge responsibility and stepping in to take on a teaching role is no easy switch from being a student there to just learn. ====

week 5:
====It was a bustling week for students who needed to finish the projects that were supposed to have already been done during the spring break. I also had a busy time assisting Ms. Guun to help roll films and prepare new materials for the class. One day, one of students in the class wanted me to do her assignment because she was afraid to make mistakes on her project. The question she asked me was about finding a proper exposure to make a good photo enlargement. I know it’s a reasonably difficult process for students who are not familiar with photography, but I want them to become confident in whatever they do. So, I found a way that would be much better for the learning process. I would give some hints to students rather than explain the answer completely, so that they could find their own way to do the work and, in turn, it would make them feel confident. When I gave tips to the student who was unsure about what she was doing, she was puzzled at first. She then tried to find out how to find the best exposure on her own, until she finally did it herself! After she found the correct exposure and made an awesome print, I could clearly see that she felt proud of her work and more self-assured. Boosting the confidence of the student did not actually make me feel more confident as a peer tutor, but the fact that I had contributed to her own success was an even better reward. ====