2008 Woodie Awards
Instant online tutoring program available to St. Philip's students
By Jared Solis
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: News
Originally published: 9/27/07 at 3:23 PM CSTLast update: 9/27/07 at 3:22 PM CST
Imagine a personal tutor at your beck and call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on subjects such as English, math or science - and it's free.
While, unfortunately, students at this college will have to continue imagining, the educational support services department at St. Philip's College has made it a reality for their students.
Tim Rasch, manager of academic support, sat in his cramped office Sept. 18 and proudly showed off the way students at St. Philip's can access a Web site service called Smarthinking.
Smarthinking.com is an Internet company based in Washington, D.C., that provides online tutoring on various subjects in real time.
"They got everything you need," Rasch said. "They have the ability to connect with an 'e-structor' right now in real time, and that's something that students want.
"The neat thing about this is that it's 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so if you're home at 11 o'clock at night and you want to do some homework and need some help with it, Smarthinking is available to you."
Students at this college, however, are required to submit a request on the SLAC lab Web site two weeks in advance for an online tutoring session.
The request goes to Gerald Manahan, distance learning program specialist, who after verifying the student's enrollment, e-mails the student with a password and instructions on where to go on the Alamo Community College District Web site for a session during the SLAC lab's business hours.
Only two sessions can be scheduled at any one particular time because only two stations at the SLAC lab are available for online services.
Smarthinking tutors' availability for subjects such as basic math skills, algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus is 24 hours during their regular schedule from September to May.
The summer schedule has specific times that a tutor can be accessed online, and more detailed subjects that are not common have tutors available upon request.
While, unfortunately, students at this college will have to continue imagining, the educational support services department at St. Philip's College has made it a reality for their students.
Tim Rasch, manager of academic support, sat in his cramped office Sept. 18 and proudly showed off the way students at St. Philip's can access a Web site service called Smarthinking.
Smarthinking.com is an Internet company based in Washington, D.C., that provides online tutoring on various subjects in real time.
"They got everything you need," Rasch said. "They have the ability to connect with an 'e-structor' right now in real time, and that's something that students want.
"The neat thing about this is that it's 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so if you're home at 11 o'clock at night and you want to do some homework and need some help with it, Smarthinking is available to you."
Students at this college, however, are required to submit a request on the SLAC lab Web site two weeks in advance for an online tutoring session.
The request goes to Gerald Manahan, distance learning program specialist, who after verifying the student's enrollment, e-mails the student with a password and instructions on where to go on the Alamo Community College District Web site for a session during the SLAC lab's business hours.
Only two sessions can be scheduled at any one particular time because only two stations at the SLAC lab are available for online services.
Smarthinking tutors' availability for subjects such as basic math skills, algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus is 24 hours during their regular schedule from September to May.
The summer schedule has specific times that a tutor can be accessed online, and more detailed subjects that are not common have tutors available upon request.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Zabdy Garza
posted 2/25/08 @ 11:39 AM CST
Why can't some of the money that's used to fund the services of student life be used for more practical necessities like this tutoring program? I think many students would be more interested in receiving free tutoring that would be available to them 24hrs day rather than seeing the "car show" or "halloween costume contest" being sponsored by our school. (Continued…)
Emily
posted 10/16/08 @ 2:46 PM CST
this site is rediculios. i feel bad for your mom. watta ho bag. no i dont want to see mrs. betsold!
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