This 24/7 online tutoring program provides support in writing, library/information literacy, and at-risk areas such as accounting, math, statistics, and research. The results indicate that learners who use tutoring services are more likely to achieve higher pass rates, higher grades in specific courses, lower drop rates, and lower fail rates.
This presentation describes a 24/7 online tutoring program providing support in writing, library/information literacy, and some of the most at-risk subject areas such as accounting, math, statistics, and research methods. The results of the evaluation of 24/7 online tutoring indicate that learners who use tutoring services are more likely to achieve higher pass rates, higher grades in specific courses, lower drop rates, and lower fail rates. When compared with a like group of nonusers, the increases in student learning for users remain. These differences are also demonstrated at the course level, between courses with and without tutoring.
Findings also reveal unique user and nonuser features. For example, results suggest that men are the least likely to use tutoring. Students prefer chat to using a webcam and/or audio. And learners are most likely to reach out for tutoring just hours before an assignment is due. Strategies to increase engagement from a broad spectrum of learners who can benefit from support are shared. In addition, relative to other subject areas students in online accounting courses in particular, find the greatest benefits from 24/7 tutoring. Data regarding the point of access, such as the use of a mobile device to access tutoring are shared.
As the tutoring program matures the importance of quality assurance becomes more evident. In particular, quality assurance practices must be in place regarding the role of the tutor, quality of feedback, time spent on a single or multiple tutoring sessions, and boundaries for a healthy tutor-to-student relationship. What has been learned and created to respond to a need for quality assurance is described.
A growing number of today’s learners are balancing competing priorities while pursuing their educational goals. Many choose an online learning experience because it can provide a high quality learning opportunity that fits into their busy lives.
Responding to the current demands and future educational needs of students and society requires educational organizations of all types to develop strategies sensitive to the context in which today’s learners function. Online supports that are accessible when and where students need them are no longer optional, they must be embraced, studied, improved, and advanced to keep higher education relevant for a growing number of “nontraditional” learners.