PEARCY -- As part of a continued effort to combat learning loss and increase student comprehension, the Lake Hamilton School District implemented an online tutoring program with 24/7 student access.
The program, called TutorMe, is an on-demand online platform that connects students with qualified tutors in a live, one-on-one setting. Funded by Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds, the partnership provides students in grades 8-12 unlimited access to tutoring and professional essay reviews.
Brian Bridges, Lake Hamilton director of communications and public relations, said students began taking advantage of the option from the start.
"We did a soft launch about a week before Christmas break so that we could get any kinks out that came about, and then did a full launch this week," he said on Tuesday.
"We're always looking at ways to meet students where they are with their learning needs, and we know over the past few years there's been some learning loss that's taken place due to the pandemic. And so since returning from the pandemic, we've been really keyed in and focused on making sure that we're fighting that learning loss."
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Bridges said the goal is to take students to a higher academic level and the platform is just another way for the district to help students.
Being a "1:1" district, with every student being provided a Chromebook computer, students log into the program from their Chromebook and may either start a live tutoring session or submit a paper to its Writing Lab. Bridges said another key component is security and privacy, as the tutoring company thoroughly screens each tutor that it employs.
"We love that everything on TutorMe is housed in the TutorMe platform, so no personal information is ever shared from the student and the tutor. All sessions are recorded, so we love the safety feature of it and we also loved that they were getting quality tutors. We like how they really did their work and vetted great tutors to provide that access to our students," he said.
Many students have jobs and Bridges said having the flexibility of 24/7 access fills a significant gap in the learning potential of the district's students.
It also helps empower those students who may be afraid to ask for help.
"Some students are more reserved in the classroom," he said. "They may not ask questions. They may have a question, but they're too shy to ask a question. TutorMe allows them to have that one-on-one without feeling embarrassed on asking a question. Of course, our teachers say all the time, 'Ask questions, ask questions.'
"Our teachers on campus are wonderful and they're always here to help, but some students are nervous. They're scared to do that. This allows them another opportunity to get help."
He noted the program does not take the place of classroom teachers, but is, rather, a supplemental solution.
During the week of the soft launch, nearly 80 students participated in one-on-one tutoring sessions, while over 80 papers were submitted to the Writing Lab for feedback.
"Just in that first week, we were blown away by how much it was utilized," he said.
On Alternative Methods of Instruction days in which teachers provide resources and assignments for students to continue learning at home during inclement weather, for example, online tutoring access can be especially helpful, he said.
"After the teacher workday hours on the AMI day, let's say the student still has additional questions. They're able to go to TutorMe and get those questions answered when maybe the teacher's not available during that time," he said.
"So just again, it's a supplement. We're not taking the place of any teacher or any classroom, but what a great supplement to offer these students to be able to take the opportunity to learn and grow and get help when they need help."
Lake Hamilton High School senior Madison Cole uses the new TutorMe online tutoring program during advisory period Wednesday. - Photo by Donald Cross of The Sentinel-Record