Improving retention and identifying "at risk" learners are high profile issues in higher education, and a proposed solution is to provide good learner support. Blending of online learning with classroom sessions offers the potential to use a virtual learning environment to deliver learning activities, and to support learners using a…

We have explored the working patterns and perceptions of a group of teachers who provide home tuition for children who cannot attend school due to medical problems. These teachers reported high levels of experience in teaching, enthusiasm for their work, and clear managerial structures. Home tutors found it very rewarding to build relationships…

This article argues for the crucial role of alignment in second language acquisition, as conceptualized from a broadly sociocognitive perspective. By "alignment," we mean the complex processes through which human beings effect coordinated interaction, both with other human beings and (usually human-engineered) environments, situations,…

This article describes Espace (Electronic System for Peer Assessment and Coaching Efficiency), a student peer-feedback tool that enhances the educational quality of assignments without overburdening faculty or adding administrative costs. Developed and tested by four universities in the Netherlands, Espace focuses on qualitative feedback and…

The strategy of the Department for Education and Skills'(DfES) 2002 strategy document, "Languages for All: Languages for Life" called for improving the quality of language teaching and learning; enhancing qualifications and credit recognition arrangements; and increasing demand for language learning. This principle was to extends to…

This paper describes a hypothetical computer program capable of emulating the behavior of a human tutor. Such a program must, ideally, display a number of characteristics. It must be mixed-initiative, meaning that either student or tutor may initiate an interaction. It must be capable of understanding natural language input and generating natural…

Examines the oral interactions between four different undergraduate writers and four different graduate student tutors. Results indicate that the interactions have characteristics of peer and classroom interaction, that they are less clearly oriented than teacher-student conferences, and that they cannot really be considered peer group talk. (RS)

Since intensive preparation for the Scholastic Aptitude Test can positively effect scores, coaching and tutoring centers are springing up to serve mainly middle class clients. This article describes a Northeastern University (Boston) model to counter this inequity by preparing Boston innercity students for the test. (MLH)

The effectiveness of a preschool peer-tutor to facilitate generalization of two preschoolers' performance on two academic tasks was evaluated. The peer-tutor apparently acted as a distracter rather than a facilitator; on some occasions time to complete a discrimination task was greatly lengthened by the presence of the peer-tutor. (SLD)

Outlines a student tutoring program called SAILS (Student Assistance in Learning and Support) that helps students who have chronic difficulties in mathematics, reading, English, and with personal problems. (MD)

Describes the programs and activities of Generations Together, an agency that promotes mutually beneficial interactions between young and old. Lists six program elements and discusses outcomes. (CH)

Reviews 12 studies to determine whether coaching improves student performance on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). While results are mixed, evidence suggests that coaching does not appreciably improve students' verbal or math scores. Factors such as test reliability and weighting SAT scores with high school records should be considered. Includes…

Tutoring, as defined for this tipsheet, is a student-driven interaction in which a tutor is enlisted to explain and clarify academic content and/or instructions to a deaf or hard-of-hearing student. It is assumed that the tutor is not fluent in the use of sign language, the student's primary mode of communication is signed communication, tutoring…

This research was supported by Research Grant No. 30-200-50, Indiana University Foundation, Indiana University.