| 217;s a hi-tech homework haven—where | | | | assignment until they begin their homework at 7 |
| the blackboards are chalk-free, students receive | | | | p.m. If they encounter trouble, they will not be |
| one-on-one attention, and the classroom is actually | | | | able to immediately access a tutor immediately |
| your living room. Welcome to the world of online | | | | the conventional way. can offer that student |
| tutoring and | | | | immediate assistance with that homework |
| may sound like an academic utopia, but | | | | problem as quickly as 7:05 p.m. Online tutoring |
| it’s one of the latest, online meeting | | | | makes sense in this day and age.” |
| places for high-school students, and parents need | | | | And returning Tutapoint students may continue to |
| not worry: this Connecticut-based website is | | | | work with the tutor of their choice, based on his |
| populated by licensed educators and savvy | | | | or her availability. “If a student had a |
| students seeking assistance in high-school-level | | | | great experience with a particular tutor, they |
| math and science courses. | | | | simply need to make a note of the |
| “Students are already exceptionally busy, | | | | tutor’s username and they can enter that |
| and accessing tutoring help via the Internet | | | | username into the session screen. This sends out |
| makes a lot of sense to a busy family,” | | | | an immediate request to that particular |
| says Executive Director Beth Kelly. | | | | tutor,” Kelly notes. |
| was somewhat of a natural fit for Kelly, a | | | | Tutapoint is designed to be student- and |
| computer technology teacher at Madison’s | | | | parent-friendly, which is why the set-up and sign-in |
| Walter C. Polson Middle School and Daniel Hand | | | | process is kept simple. All it takes is a high-speed |
| High School. | | | | Internet connection and a parent’s |
| offered me a chance to mix two of my passions | | | | permission for a student to log in and get help. |
| together: education and technology,” she | | | | There’s a special section for parents on |
| says. | | | | the site, too, where they can get to know the |
| And while online tutoring, offered in the wide open | | | | site’s staff and read up on the |
| spaces of the Internet might seem impersonal, | | | | professional requirements for Tutapoint’s |
| Kelly and founders Ryan Duques and Michael | | | | tutors. |
| Callaghan strive to provide a personalized | | | | Kelly states, “The screening process |
| approach to modern learning by using local, | | | | includes criminal background checks following a |
| Northeast-based tutors who communicate with | | | | round of extensive phone interviews and e-mail |
| their students live and in real time. | | | | correspondence. prides itself on employing |
| “All of our tutors are required to use a | | | | certified teachers and college professors. We also |
| webcam while tutoring,” Kelly explains. | | | | offer tutors currently attending Ivy League |
| “This feature allows the session to take | | | | colleges such as Yale, who are majoring in high |
| on a more personal [approach]. The student and | | | | levels of math and science.” |
| tutor can converse in a manner similar to that of | | | | And Tutapoint’s staffers are already |
| a real, in-person tutoring session.” | | | | talking about expanding the sites services, to |
| Plus, online tutoring offers students one thing a | | | | offer tutoring in English grammar and foreign |
| library or learning center can’t: complete | | | | languages, an accredited certification process for |
| privacy in the comfort of one’s own | | | | tutors, and assistance for students who need help |
| home. | | | | meeting No Child Left Behind requirements. |
| “What I like about Tutapoint is…it | | | | Launched on Oct. 15, Kelly says students are |
| eliminates the awkwardness of face-to-face | | | | already taking advantage of Tutapoint’s |
| tutoring where it takes weeks to feel | | | | services and returning with enthusiastic feedback. |
| comfortable with your tutor,” says Alison | | | | Lamothe notes, “I have been |
| Lamothe, an 11th-grader from Madison. Lamothe | | | | recommending the site to my friends since the |
| recently sought help with her Algebra II | | | | day after my first session. It is a great |
| homework. “The tutor I had…was | | | | program!” |
| very helpful because he presented different topics | | | | Recently featured on WCBS radio, is also |
| in many ways and then we worked on which | | | | garnering an adult fanbase. Kelly says parents |
| way was best for me.” | | | | have already visited the site to comment on its |
| The length of the session time is customizable, | | | | affordability ($24 an hour, and the first session is |
| too, according to the student’s needs, | | | | free) and how much it has helped their children. |
| whether it’s an on-demand quick fix for a | | | | Lamothe concurs. “My math grades |
| trig problem (at a minimum of 15 minutes), or a | | | | increased significantly, probably about seven |
| scheduled session, after dinner, to prepare for a | | | | points,” she says. “Math just made |
| biology mid-term (with a maximum of two hours). | | | | more sense to me…There is not a doubt |
| Kelly says, “A student may not realize | | | | in my mind that I will most definitely use the site |
| they need help with a particular homework | | | | again. |