Elluminating the Road: Starting Your Online Tutoring Program

Leanne Frost and Chairsty StewartAcademic Support Center

Montana State University Billings

Elluminating the Road: Starting Your Online Tutoring Program

Leanne Frost and Chairsty StewartAcademic Support Center

Montana State University Billings

Montana State University Billings

4-year university located in Billings, MT

2-year College of Technology campus

Approximately 5,000 students

One of four Montana State University campuses

Academic Support Center

Recruits, trains and manages staff, including:

1 director An additional 5 FT and 20 PT

instructors, who also tutor 60 tutors Two part-time administrative

assistants

Academic Support CenterUniversity Campus

Equips, manages and staffs a main campus Learning Lab with: 40 computers 14 tutoring stations

Serves nearly 600 students per day!

Academic Support CenterCOT Campus

Equips, manages and staffs a COT Learning Lab with: 16 computers 7 tutoring stations

Serves nearly 125 students per day

Demographics75% of incoming freshmen take

developmental classes

89% are commuter students

Average age of student is 24

35% of students are 25 or older

Retention data on our 2007-2008 first-year to second-year students show:

Students taking a combination of online and on-campus classes are the most successful.

Students taking only online classes are the least successful.

Why Offer Online Tutoring?

Increase access for all students Expand hours for all students Increase access to high

demand areas with low tutor availability

Keep up with the advancing use of technology in education

Meet goals set by administration

Things to Consider Prior to Implementation

Things to Consider Subjects to be tutored

What are the needs of the subject areas based on the needs of the students?

Synchronous or Asynchronous or both?

What are your resources – enough staff?

Outsourcing/In-house A 2nd party virtual learning assistance

center? A regional consortium? In-house online tutoring center?

Things to Consider

Technology Available/Needed Laptop/Desktop/Tablets Internet connectivity Headset microphones

Noise-cancelling USB plug-ins

Webcams Software

ADA accessible Tutorials Access to electronic versions of

course materials

Things to Consider

Operational Expenses Software Hardware Peripheries Employee wages Training

Funding Departmentally funded Grant funded Shared funding opportunities

Things to Consider

Tutor selection Who is tech and subject savvy? Who is available to tutor and when?

Scheduling (hours/availability) What are the hours?

Balance between tutor availability and student need

During on-campus hours and/or extended hours

Things to Consider

Training Who will coordinate and supervise

the online tutoring program? Must know the program before

training others Certifications/tutorials/webinars

Start-up workshops Ongoing through semester Practice sessions

Things to Consider Gaining buy-in/support across

campus Articles in campus publications Notices to instructors Notices to students from online instructors A link on the campus home page A link on the student services webpage Demonstrations to faculty Workshops for students Posters Give-aways A “Grand Opening”!

Things to Consider

Oversight (administration--who is responsible for what?) Purchasing Training Scheduling Monitoring Troubleshooting Equipment Security

Things to Consider Tracking

Saving sessions Creating logs

Assessment Instructor feedback Student satisfaction surveys

Things to Consider

Implementation Time Schedule Set an approximate start date Research options available Obtain approvals Purchase software and equipment Hire and train personnel Publicize services

ONLINE TUTORING DEMO

Obstacles to Success Funding Limited technology

Students Tutors

Oversight Lack of tutor training Lack of tutors or availability Territoriality Faculty hesitancy Fear of the unknown Lack of awareness of services/program First impressions

Overcoming Obstacles Plan ahead, but be willing to adapt. Take the time to “play” with hardware and

programs before making a final decision. Work with disability services to ensure

access for all! Early decisions made in concert with all

stakeholders -- faculty, administrators, students, and tutors -- increase the potential for a successful program.

Respond to tutor and student needs. Provide plenty of training. Assess and adapt.

QUESTIONS?

Contact Us

Leanne Frost, Interim Director, Academic Support Centerlfrost@msubillings.edu(406) 657-1714

Chairsty Stewart, Math Instructor and Online Tutoring Supervisor, Academic Support Centercstewart@msubillings.edu(406) 657-2010