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Online Tutoring Part of Growing Trend
Tamika Thomas works in the tutoring lab at the Art Institute of Washington. The school uses Smarthinking's service.
(By Jahi Chikwendiu -- The Washington Post)
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Online tutors are available 24 hours a day for one-on-one help in math, writing, science and other topics. Students and tutors discuss assignments through online chat sessions, using a virtual whiteboard that allows for use of charts, graphs and diagrams. Those wanting help with a paper can submit a draft for feedback, which usually comes back within 24 hours.
Chernila, coordinator for the academic achievement center at the Art Institute of Washington, said she relies on Smarthinking tutors to help students refine their writing. She encourages her students to use the tutors for "another voice and an another opinion." The additional feedback, she said, made for better student work. The Art Institute pays for the service, provided free to students.
Brent Mellecker, 19, a media arts and animation major who took Chernila's literature class, said he was pleased with the responses he received from Smarthinking. But, he said, it could sometimes take up to three days to get a paper back.
"I always asked for the first available tutor online to make sure I got [the paper] back in time," Mellecker said. A few other students also experienced small delays with their essays, Chernila said. But she said it rarely interfered with her class.
Amy Yang, 20, a game art and design major, said she found the comments helpful on her writing assignments and usually received a response from a tutor in a day or two.
Chuck Kleiner, vice president of sales and marketing at Smarthinking, said company records show that 80 percent of the papers submitted from the Art Institute of Washington since 2003 were returned within 24 hours. Kleiner said that records indicated only 4 percent of the papers were returned after 30 hours and that those delays were usually caused when essays were submitted before a holiday break.
Speaking of time, Kleiner said more than 70 percent of questions arise between 6 p.m. and 9 a.m. on weekdays, and on weekends.
"We're available when they can't get help anywhere else," he said.
