SMARTHINKING 24/7 On-line Tutoring: Making the Learning Process Visible Melissa Brocato & Saundra Y. McGuire, Center for Academic Success Mike Embry, SMARTHINKING

The CAS Mission To serve as the central comprehensive learning center that cultivates intellectual development through course and discipline specific assistance, service-learning, and guidance in developing general learning strategies and technology skills.

The CAS Vision To actively support an academic environment in which students, faculty, staff, and administrators address the intellectual development of all learners, and to change the learning culture at LSU by producing students who know HOW to learn and are excited about learning!

National College Learning Center Association Frank L. Christ Outstanding Learning Center Award

Why On-line Tutoring? Over 16,000 visits by 440 students to CAS tutorial centers in math, bio/chem, and physics in Wait times to see a tutor as much as 45 minutes Need for tutoring in subjects not provided by CAS Need for individual tutor rather than in walk-in center environment Need for tutoring outside of CAS tutorial center hours Note: The CAS tutorial centers will continue providing peer tutoring; on-line tutoring will augment this assistance

Why SMARTHINKING? SMARTHINKING tutors are experienced faculty or grad students with training in facilitating learning Three different mechanisms for getting help, either synchronously or asynchronously Tutors stress interaction and metacognitive skills development rather than answering questions Louisiana Board of Regents provided SMARTHINKING for LA colleges in 2003 SMARTHINKING endorsed by numerous learning center professionals

What is SMARTTHINKING?

SMARTHINKING SMARTHINKING is the leading provider of online academic support services for higher education. SMARTHINKING helps colleges and improve universities improve student success and instructor support through on demand, one to one help provided anytime and anywhere.

"Often times services for students at a distance are seen as something special or added on or separate from student services for (on-campus) students. With SMARTHINKING, we've been able to provide academic tutoring at the "teachable moment" for both on and off-campus students. We see this as a complement to our on-campus tutoring services and, thus, it expands the availability for student access to tutoring." Dr. James M. Shaeffer Dean of Outreach Programs University of North Dakota

SMARTHINKING’s Services 24/7 Drop-in math tutoring Afternoon/Evening drop-in for non-math subjects 24/7 Asynchronous question submission Prescheduled Sessions Online Writing Lab Student Archives Academic Reference Materials

SMARTHINKING’s Support Offerings Developmental Math Algebra Geometry/Trig Calculus I&II Statistics Finance/Acct Economics Grammar Composition ESL Chemistry Biology Anatomy/Physiology Physics Spanish

SMARTHINKING Experience Used by students in over 1,000 colleges and universities Over 1,000,000 tutoring sessions delivered Served the higher education market since 1999

How SMARTHINKING Does It

“hi, i am taking college algebra right now. i need your services. what i need to do is fax you a set of 21 questions. and i need for you to answer all the questions within a 1 to 2 hour time limit. when you have answered them i need you to fax the answers back to me. i will pay you how much ever it costs. but i will need them answered within the 1 to 2 hour time limit. can you help me and do this for me? get to me asap. thanks.”

SMARTHINKING’s “e-structors” CREDENTIALED – Over 90% have a Master’s or PhD in their discipline; 9 years avg. teaching experience. VERIFIED – screened by SMARTHINKING’s in-house Education team. TRAINED – 4 module online training program plus “practicum.” MONITORED – All interactions with students are saved. In-house Education Team evaluates performance, provides professional development.

SMARTHINKING Survey - Fall of % said ‘they would use SMARTHINKING again.’ 92% thought ‘SMARTHINKING helped them learn about their subject.’ 94% found ‘the comments provided by the e- structors helped them get a better grade on their essay.’ 96% said they would recommend SMARTHINKING to a friend.

Best Practices in Internet-Supported Learning In Higher Education Study By Alliance for Higher Education Competitiveness Trends and Vendor Satisfaction Update – March 2006 Top 10% of over 80 products and services #2 of all service providers

Implementation at LSU Partnered with Independent Study for pilot project Pilot project began December 6, 2006 Very positive feedback from students and instructors Student Tech Fee proposal funded for 98K in 2007 Faculty training workshops conducted by CAS and Center for Faculty Development Continuing search for additional funding to continue SMARTHINKING

Subjects Accessed by LSU Students Writing Math: (basic math through Calculus II), Business: statistics, finance, economics, accounting, Science: general biology, anatomy and physiology, genetics, physics, chemistry, Foreign Language: Spanish

Results of Pilot Study 88% of students rated the service as helpful to extremely helpful (on a scale of 1 – 5) 81% of students felt the service should continue (11% not sure; 8% said no)

Feedback from Students “The ability to get help right at home without having to leave. The process works great and it’s easy to communicate with all the features they provide” It gave a detailed analysis of the problem I had in my paper I was able to talk to an actual person, even though it was pretty late when I was trying to cram for a test The one-on-one session with a tutor in the foreign languages Has a place to try to turn to when you need it The tutors didn’t seem like they understood the subject that well because they would repeat my question and ask what I thought. If I knew the answer and how to arrive at it, I wouldn’t have needed tutoring. I think it’s a great service to have provided to me by LSU! Thanks! Really enjoyed the service…please please continue I think it’s a phenomenal thinking to add to our resources here on and off campus. Thank you for always thinking ahead.

SMARTHINKING