1. Presented by Melissa R. Berta, Ed.d, OCC John Huber, Smarthinking
Strengthening Student Success by Implementing an Online Tutoring Program
Presented by
Melissa R. Berta, Ed.d, OCC
John Huber, Smarthinking

2. Acknowledgments Faculty at OCC Resources provided by Title III grant
Sheri Sterner, Elliot Ikuta, Fernando Gonzalez

3. Intended Session Outcomes
Understand the implementation process of online tutoring
Know and understand the student perspective of an online tutoring session at OCC
Discuss ideas and comments about online tutoring

4. The Problems Falling rates of retention and student success
Revenue loss due to attrition and course repetition
Inability to fund needed systemic changes to improve student success efforts

5. The Discussion We needed to take action
Faculty involvement was essential in identifying strategies
Increase the academic support programs that the Student Success Center has to offer students
Implementing online tutoring helped us achieve this objective

6. Goals and Objectives Increase student utilization of tutoring services
Increase in Retention
Increase in Student Success

7. Requirements for Successful Online Tutoring
Easy to Access
Easy to Use
Maximized Access and Availability
Highly Trained Tutors
Ability to Monitor and Manage Quality

8. Smarthinking Online Tutoring Specifications
Access: Integrates with existing school portal, platform or other resources.
Usability: Chat-style interaction with expression and graphics tools (virtual whiteboard).
Availability: Tutors available around the clock from any Internet connection.
Tutors: College/university faculty, graduate students, recent graduates from graduate programs, and retired educators. 90% have graduate degrees in their subject and average 9 years of teaching experience.
Quality: Reporting tools, ongoing professional development, student evaluations of tutoring sessions, all sessions are archived for student, faculty, and administrative review.

9. The Online Tutoring Interaction

10. Implementation of Online Tutoring
Integration
Blackboard (initially)
OCC Website Student Success Center link (year 2)
Faculty and Staff Orientation
Marketing/Awareness Campaigns
Inclusion in admissions materials
Web bulletins
blasts
Classroom visits
Division and Department presentations
Flyers and posters throughout campus
Ongoing Assessment and Data Analysis

11. Results Increased student utilization of tutoring services
Increased retention
Increased student success

12. Increases in Student Utilization
Fall Totals
Students
Sessions
Hours
Fall 2007
663
3337
3157:09:00
Fall 2008
1331
6607
6801:33:00
Percent Change
100.80%
0.98
115.40%
Spring Totals
Spring 2008
681
4396
4261:17:00
Spring 2009
1640
7081
8387:00:00
140.90%
61.10%
96.90%
Student – unduplicated headcount

13. Tutoring Sessions by Hour of Day
40% of sessions occur between the hours of 8 pm and 1 am

14. Student Experience Survey
QUESTION 1 2 3 4 5 No
Yes
Grand Total
Favorable Rating
Rate your tutor (5 is the best): 59 19 63 91
422
654
88.1%
Rate the technology (5 is the best): 40 37
114
128
335
88.2%
Would you recommend SMARTHINKING to a friend? 44
610
93.3%

15. Student Comments
“Quite remarkable and useful. I would use it again anyday”
“I wish i would have know about his site a long time ago. [Blank] college in California has never said anything about his site and now that i am at a different school the teacher encouraged us to use this site for help it is so perfect and the people r so nice and helpful. THANK YOU”
“Was of great help and explain in great deal when i didn't understand i never know math could be so easy”

16. Increase Student Success and Retention
Targeted Mathematics Courses
Minimum increase of 20% for retention
At least 15% increase in success (completion with a “C” or better)
Targeted Writing Courses
Minimum increase of 15% for retention
At least 16% increase in success (completion with a “C” or better)

17. This Years Adjustments
Increase participation and awareness
Improve ease of access
Expand data plan to include GPA and persistence

18. ?