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Session Length and Frequency of Sessions
Session Length and Frequency of Sessions

Sessions can last for up to 1.5 hours, and are limited to one session a day per student/tutor combination. This article will explain why!

Jacob Robinson avatar
Written by Jacob Robinson
Updated over a week ago

How long can Knack Sessions Last?

The maximum amount of time that a session can last for on Knack is 1.5 hours (1 hour and 30 minutes).

How often can I meet with a Tutor?

Knack has a daily session limit of 1 session, up to 1.5 hours, per student and tutor combination, regardless of course. This means that a tutee and tutor can meet once per day.

If needed, you may meet with a different peer tutor or use the On-Demand Tutoring Option, if it is enabled at your school.

Why does Knack have Parameters in Place for this?

For college or university students, the ideal length of a peer-to-peer tutoring session often falls between 30 minutes to 1.5 hours. This range is supported by several factors:

  1. Attention Span and Learning Effectiveness: The ideal attention span for adults, including college students, is most effective within the first 30 to 45 minutes. Shorter tutoring sessions align with natural attention cycles, leading to more effective learning.

  2. Cognitive Load Theory: Long sessions can lead to information overload, negatively impacting learning. Keeping sessions to a manageable length, ideally under 1.5 hours, helps manage cognitive load.

  3. Engagement and Interaction in Learning: Engaging, interactive sessions are typically more manageable and effective when shorter. These sessions contribute significantly to the learning process through active participation and dialogue.

  4. Frequency and Regularity of Learning Sessions: Shorter, more frequent learning sessions allow for regular reinforcement of concepts. This approach is more effective for retention and understanding than longer, less frequent sessions.

  5. Flexibility and Convenience: Shorter tutoring sessions are more adaptable to the diverse schedules of college students, who often balance academics with other responsibilities.

  6. Customization to Student Needs: The length of tutoring sessions should be adjusted based on the specific requirements of the subject matter and the students involved, generally recommended to be between 30 minutes to 1.5 hours.

Works Cited

Beatey, C. (2023, October 9). The spacing effect in learning and retention. Practical Psychology. https://practicalpie.com/spacing-effect/

Bouchrika, I. (2023, July 28). The Andragogy Approach: Knowles’ adult learning theory principles. Research.com. https://research.com/education/the-andragogy-approach#:~:text=Andragogy is built on the,pursuing learning past formal education.

Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2009). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. Harper and Row.

Main, P. (2022, January 17). Cognitive load theory: A teacher’s guide. Structural Learning. https://www.structural-learning.com/post/cognitive-load-theory-a-teachers-guide#:~:text=John Sweller’s cognitive load theory,the cognitive architecture of learners.

Mcleod, S. (2023, November 16). Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development and scaffolding theory. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/zone-of-proximal-development.html

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