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Tutoring
Limited tutoring services are free and available to students who seek assistance in learning material for their courses. The tutors are upper-class students who have been recommended by faculty as experts in specific subject matter.
Peer tutors are available in a variety of courses during study sessions and by appointment. Peer tutoring focuses on helping students develop the problem-solving and analytical skills needed to understand, synthesize or apply complex material.
The Tutor List will change from semester to semester. To schedule time with a tutor, you may raise a flag in Starfish.
Supplemental Instruction
Definition
Supplemental Instruction (SI) is an academic assistance program that utilizes peer-assisted study sessions. SI sessions are regularly-scheduled, informal review sessions in which students compare notes, discuss readings, develop organizational tools and predict test items. Students learn how to integrate course content and study skills while working together. The sessions are facilitated by "SI leaders" - students who have previously done well in the course and who attend all class lectures, take notes and act as model students.
Participants
SI is a free service offered to all students in a targeted course. SI is a non-remedial approach to learning as the program targets high-risk courses rather than high-risk students. SI is a voluntary program and all students are encouraged to attend the sessions. Students with varying levels of academic preparedness and diverse ethnicity participate. There is no remedial stigma attached to SI since the program targets high-risk courses, helping everyone involved.
Online Tutoring
Smarthinking, an on-demand online tutoring program, is now available free of charge to students. You can access a live tutor by logging into your Blackboard course. From there, you will follow the user friendly instructions to have access to 10 hours of free assistance.
To connect with a tutor through Blackboard, follow these steps:
- Login to your Blackboard account
- Choose a class
- Open the Tools page of that class
- Click on Smarthinking
OR
- Login to your Blackboard account
- Access the My MASU tab at the top of Blackboard
- Find the MaSU Important Links module and click on Smarthinking
Once you access Smarthinking, you will need to follow these steps:
- Choose one of four options; Work with a tutor, Submit a question, Submit a Writing, or Review Sessions and Submissions
- Once the choice is made you have three options: Drop-In Session, Schedule a Session, or Ask a Question
- Choose a subject and work from there
Note: If a course is highlighted blue, it is available to use. If a course is highlighted white, it is unavailable to use.
Online tutoring is available via Skype and other means with academic tutors. There are several ways tutors and students can connect online:
- Skype for Business
- Email is easy. Just click on the tutor's name to get a direct link to their email.
- Instant Messenger Programs such as Windows Live or Yahoo have text, audio, visual and even some whiteboard capabilities.
- Skype allows for face-to-face communication. For information on using Skype, please contact Katie Richards.
Study Skills
20 Suggestions for Better Time Management
Secrets of a Straight "A" Student
For additional information, email studentsuccess@mayvillestate.edu.