Smarthinking Tutor Services for Faculty

What is it?

Smarthinking is an online tutoring service offering writing help in an asynchronous format, math tutoring 24/7 and tutoring in economics, accounting, chemistry, physics, and anatomy and physiology from 3pm to 1am to students at participating colleges from any internet connected computer. Tutors are all professionals carefully screened and trained by Smarthinking.

The purpose of on-line tutoring is not to replace hands-on tutoring services but to expand the tutorial services already provided to our students. Smarthinking gives all students access to tutoring after hours and during weekends when our services are not available.

In the overall framework of tutorial support, on-line tutoring will be a small component of the tutorial services offered by the college. DCCC has purchased 600 hours for the 2006-2007 academic year; and estimate that student usage for all campuses will not exceed the contracted hours with Smarthinking. Total tutoring hours during the 2005-2006 academic year for one-on-one/small group professional and peer tutoring throughout the college totaled 26,922. In addition to total hours of tutoring, total student contacts through the Act 101/Perkins Tutorial Lab was 24,203.

Involvement of Faculty

No matter how professional the service provided by Smarthinking, no matter how thoroughly trained the tutors, the program cannot succeed as an "outside" service shaped by "outside" influences. Effective tutoring complements and enhances classroom instruction by relying on collaboration between tutor and teacher. DCCC faculty provides the critical link connecting tutorial services to both our college competencies as well as to our students.