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What People Are Saying About SMARTHINKING

Education is now 24-7
No help with homework? No excuse with online tutor

By Lanetta J. Williams
Press & Guide Newspapers - 1/16/05

DEARBORN - Dearborn schools are using some smart thinking when it comes to helping students.

The district announced that soon, eighth through 12th-grade students will be able to use an online tutoring service called SMARTHINKING from any Internet connection, to access live tutors 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"They had a very strong track record of helping students," said Paul Smith, director of secondary education for Dearborn Public Schools. "The state of Massachusetts used this program extensively and had tremendous success."

Students can log on and get one-on-one help from "e-structors" with math, science, writing and even get their questions answered in Spanish.

Shana Heikes, account manager for SMARTHINKING said the company, based in Washington D.C., is working with about 18 school districts, libraries and 200 colleges and universities nationwide.

"What we're trying to do is provide an additional educational tool to help students receive tutoring and academic help at that teachable moment," she said.

The program is geared at helping students stuck on questions about subjects like calculus, when no other help is available.

"If it's 8 o'clock at night and a student is having a problem with homework, they can go online and talk to a tutor," Heikes said.

At a demonstration with counselors and teachers at the Administrative Service Center, 18700 Audette, she urged instructors to use the program too.

"(It's) a tool teachers can use in the classroom to enhance what teachers are already doing through their lesson plans," she said.

Dearborn is the first school district in Michigan to offer the program, Heikes said.

The district is using the program on a trial basis through June 30.

Until then, students can use up to 10 hours of free tutoring.

Approximately 7,300 students are enrolled in the program, Heikes said.

She said the district was charged a discounted rate of $6 per student per 10 hours of tutoring. Normally, the company charges up to $35 per hour or $120, for four hours of tutoring.

If a student uses their 10 hours before June 30, parents can purchase more time at those rates, Heikes said.

And the tutoring comes from a qualified bunch.

Tutors are composed of mostly adjunct college professors, teachers on sabbatical and students pursuing graduate degrees, Heikes said.

She said 80 percent have master's degrees and 10 percent have PhDs.

"They can be based all over the world as long as they have stable Internet access," she said.

But if students are looking for an easy way out at the last minute, Heikes said they won't find it here.

"We're not going to give them answers but we'll give them steps on how to answer it on their own," she said.

Students must use their 10 hours of tutoring before the contract expires or they'll lose the time, Heikes said.

If the program is a success, DPS may renew it for the 2005-2006 school year and offer it to more grade levels.

And already, many think it will be.

"I think it's great," said Phil Hespen a counselor at Fordson High School. "I think it will be a wonderful tool for kids."

O.L. Smith Middle School Counselor, Ron Leitzke, said he often gets parents who ask him to recommend tutors but he said this would be much simpler — and cheaper.

Tutoring sessions at places like Sylvan Learning Center could cost $140 for a placement test and $39 per hour in a small group.

Parents can also purchase SMARTHINKING packages individually.

A single essay submission will cost $19.95 and one ACT essay review, $9.95, Heikes said.

Students will be given a username and password to the Web site, which can be accessed at smarthinking.com.

SMARTHINKING has operated for five years and has contracts with Chicago Public Schools and in Los Angeles, Heikes said.

O.L. Smith Principal Hassane Jaafar said his school will introduce the program to students starting second semester on Jan. 24.

"We feel this is a very progressive move to secure another tool for our students to perform better in school," he said.

For information on types of services offered, visit www.smarthinking.com.

(© 2005 Copyright 2004 Heritage Newspapers, an affiliate of Journal Register Company)