army of free tutors in place for area students, lifelong learners
condon times-journal
As the school year gets underway, an army of skilled tutors stands ready to help students and persons of all ages with homework, writing, resume-building, G.E.D. assistance, citizenship tests, and many other studies.
The free service is available through public libraries in Condon, Arlington, Fossil, and Moro and can be accessed by anyone seven days per week, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., wherever there is an internet connection.
Students from kindergarten through 12th grade, homeschoolers, those in introductory-level college courses and adult learners can simply visit the library or go to a library's website to get on-demand, interactive help from qualified tutors.
All that's needed is a library card or to obtain the tutoring service pass-code from any public library in Eastern Oregon. Access can also be made directly through the LEO website, www.librariesofeasternoregon.org.
Live, online tutoring services have been made available for this school year with funding contributed by The Chalkboard Project, Libraries of Eastern Oregon (LEO), and several area public libraries.
The project is part of 'Leo Learns,' an initiative to bring rograms and services to persons of all ages across the region.
Administered by Tutor.com, the LEO Learns suite includes 'Live Homework Help,' the College Learning Center, and the Adult Career Center.
'Live Homework Help' connects student sin grades K-12 with expert tutors in math, science, social studies and language arts.
The College Center provides remedial help for higher education courses and reports, essays and papers in a wide range of subjects. The Adult Learning Center provides assistance with studies for a high school diploma, U.S. citizenship tests, crafting a resume, and job search services.
Tutoring is available in both English and Spanish.
Students and tutors can review specific homework questions, as well as aubject-specific concepts using features such as controlled chat, an interactive white board, and shared web browsing. There is also 24/7 access to worksheets, videos and tutorials in just about any subject. All tutors are certified teachers, college professors, professional tutors, graduate or undergraduate students from across the country. Tutor.com has more than 2,000 highly qualified tutors serving 1,800 libraries across the country, although few in Oregon outside of this region. To date, nationwide the service has conducted over 4.5 million sessions.
"We're really pleased to have this help from the Chalkboard Project and some local libraries to have this service available in the region, " said Lyn Craig, LEO executive director. "The learnin suite is easy to use and significantly increases each library's presence and responsibility in the rural community."
Launched in 2004, the nonprofit Chalkboard Project was organized by a consortium of six of Oregon's leading foundations to help bolster education with a goal of making the state's K-12 public schools among the nation's best.
Chalkboard Project aims to help create a more informed and engaged public to address issues required to build strong schools, and to enable statewide programs that can be applied at the lcal level to improve school quality, aaccountability and funding.
To learn more about Chalkboard Project and it sefforts, contact project director Kylie Grunow, 877-968-7513, or see the web site, www.chalkboardproject.org.
LEO servies public libraries in Baker, Crook, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, and Wheeler counties. For more information, contact Craig, 541-763-2355.
