Only one difficulty that I see, and that is the aggressive marketing when of individuals on the list. If someone is interested, let them contact the company. Otherwise, enjoy the list and participate away.
Jim
-----Original Message-----
From: Open Forum for Learning Assistance Professionals [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 3:57 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Online tutoring program usage
Hello List --
If the list would prefer that I not participate, I will certainly bow out. However, this post about the presence of a for-profit company on the list presumes that a for-profit company has nothing to contribute to the best practices of online tutoring. I would argue that, on the contrary, SMARTHINKING has done a tremendous amount of innovative work and best practice establishment for the entire field. There are a variety of inter-related variables related to cost, service levels (like wait times and turnaround times), service breadth, tutor-training, user-interface, technical support, campus implementation, integration with LMS', session archiving, student usage data, student outcomes, student satisfaction and other issues that SMARTHINKING has had to and continues to address. It's easy to do online tutoring. It's hard to do it consistently, affordably, and on-demand. We are very conscious of the fine line between participation and promotion. I will remove myself from the lis!
t if desired, or, conversely, if there are particular subjects that someone would like to hear more about, I would be happy to do that too (either on-line or off). Thanks for allowing me to participate.
-- Burck
CEO, SMARTHINKING
>From: "Rhodes, Grace" <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: 2008/03/25 Tue PM 01:52:40 CDT
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Online tutoring program usage
>Why does a CEO from Smarthinking "lurk" on this Learning Centers
>listserv? This is bothering me. Are we just perceived as a big
>potential market for making company profits? Of course, they'll claim
>they have students' interests in mind, and maybe they do, but underlying
>that, they have a product to sell, and therefore, they have motivation
>to influence potential buyers to their perspective.
>
>I like reading about educators' best practices, concerns, suggestions,
>and the like. But I have a hard time reading a comment made by a
>company executive to a potential market and believing that comment
>could be objective. I'm on the writing centers international listserv,
>too, and there's regular discussion about online tutoring--both
>homegrown and outsourced. I appreciate hearing others' experiences with
>both, and if I want to learn more about any of them, I can go directly
>to the source; they don't need to come to me like a vendor calling my
>home.
>
>Grace Rhodes
>Director, The Writing & Learning Studio
>Shoreline Community College
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Open Forum for Learning Assistance Professionals
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
>Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:37 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Online tutoring program usage
>
>Hello List --
>
>While I think it would be inappropriate for me to argue forcefully for
>SMARTHINKING's approach, I do want to correct the impression left by the
>previous comment. Schools may purchase SMARTHINKING on a per-student
>basis or on a per-hour basis. The numbers listed below reflect a
>per-student purchase where, for whatever reason, the school did not use
>the time they purchased. The school could have chosen a per-hour model
>where the school could have only paid for what they used.
>
>Also, while I'm at it, additional factors that should influence a
>decision are the total cost of providing an hour of tutoring
>(recruitment, training, benefits, non-use of tutors, technology,
>management, etc...) and the impact of service levels on student success
>(longer or inconsistent wait times and essay turnaround times).
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Burck Smith
>CEO, SMARTHINKING
>
>
>>From: "Golson, Martin" <[log in to unmask]>
>>Date: 2008/03/25 Tue AM 10:58:16 CDT
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Re: Online tutoring program usage
>
>>When we used Smarthinking, our students primarily used their writing
>>support. Their services only cost us about $2.80 per student per year,
>>but based on utilization we were paying $96 per hour for the actual
>>service provided.
>>
>>Martin Golson
>>Instructional Specialist
>>Austin Peay State University
>>
>>(931) 221-6553
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Open Forum for Learning Assistance Professionals
>>[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Shevawn Eaton
>>Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 10:50 AM
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Online tutoring program usage
>>
>>While we are on the subject, I have a couple of other questions.
>>
>> I'm wondering if you all are willing to share how much on-line
>>tutoring is used. Maybe some contact numbers for the academic year?
>>Do you have an idea of the per capita expense of these?
>>
>>Also, can you share how much you use them for math or other
>>computational courses? And what systems you are most satisfied with
>>for that function.
>>
>>Thanks.
>>
>>Shevawn Eaton, Ph.D.
>>Director, ACCESS/ESP
>>Northern Illinois University
>>DeKalb, IL 60115
>>PH: (815) 753-0581
>>www.tutoring.niu.edu
>>
>>FAX: (815) 753-4115
>>
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