Notes that the effectiveness of tutoring as an intervention is controversial. Reviews research on college tutoring practices. Concludes that existing research provides some support for tutoring but does not address the issue of whether tutored students are eventually able to perform as independent learners. (RS)

Describes the battle of one English professor at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville against the special academic help provided to athletes at that institution. Notes a possible investigation by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, media attention, and the professor's proposal that all academic tutoring be overseen by an academic…

Teacher trainees at West Chester University tutor minority children as a means of preparing for diverse classrooms. Student journals document their growing cultural sensitivity, decreasing fears, and increased understanding of their own racial identity. (SK)

Advocates incorporation of math and computer instruction into adult literacy programs. Describes a North Carolina tutoring program that includes computer labs. (SK)

Evaluation of a distance learning nursing program that used problem-based learning tutorials shows it resulted in both student achievement and enjoyment. Results demonstrated the importance of well-written and accessible learning materials, realistic goals, and allowance for the learning curve of tutors. (SK)

This article explores the use of discourse analysis and conversation analysis as an evaluation tool in problem-based learning. The basic principles of the methods are discussed and their application in analysing talk in problem-based learning considered. Findings suggest that these methods could enable an understanding of how effective…

This article describes a pilot academic mentoring program carried out over 1 semester in the SEEK Program at the College of Staten Island, CUNY. The program was utilized to provide a resource for students whose overall grade point average was below 2.5, placing them at risk for academic dismissal. A goal-setting approach was used to aid the…

For online mathematics instructors, synchronous communication can be a challenge due to the need for specialized symbols, graphics, or notations to explain key concepts. While software tools exist to support such communication, they can often be cumbersome and time-consuming for users to adopt in online exchanges. As one way of addressing this…

This paper addresses the practice and experience of Universitas Terbuka (UT) in the provision of learning support services for students in a large-scale distance education system. The UT, which has a network of 37 regional offices and participating institutions, has challenges to provide and manage effective learning support system for more than…

This seven-part guide provides a framework for use in planning, developing, and implementing an evaluation for a tutoring program. Part I provides a brief introduction to the value of evaluating a tutoring program. Part II advises readers first to determine the purpose of their evaluation and the kinds of information to be examined, to consider…

This article outlines a cross-age elementary level geography tutorial project and suggests some experiences suitable for tutorial activity. (DE)

This document examines eighteen studies on the subject of cross-grade tutoring, the studies being classified according to the manner in which the tutoring task is selected--whether based on the needs of the teacher, the tutor, or the tutee. Presentation of the studies follows the following sequence: (1) a description and analysis of experiments…

Describes a reading program designed to help slow readers bridge the summer gap between the first and second grade. (RB)