(Chelsea Update would like to thank Karen Persello and Edith Donnell for the information in this story.)
The Chelsea District Library has a new service to meet the needs of students and parents in the comfort of their own homes, whether using their personal computers or their school-issued iPads: free online tutoring, called HelpNow™, from Brainfuse.com.
HelpNow™ is a computer-based service from the tutoring company, which provides a variety of homework support – from live tutoring after school to skills building exercises, and essay review. Families need to have a Chelsea District Library card to access the service.
Users need to set up an account to take advantage of many of the service’s features, but the account setup is simple and is free of charge.
Karen Persello, head of Youth and Teen Services, says in a press release, “The library made the decision to purchase an online tutoring service after consulting with leaders in the Chelsea School District, as well as local parents.”
HelpNow’s live tutors are available to chat via keyboard with students in grades K-12 from 2 p.m.- 11 p.m. daily. Some of the subjects with which students can get help are: English, Math, Science and Social Studies for elementary students, and, Algebra I and II, Geometry, Trig, Calculus, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English and Social Studies for middle and high school students.
SAT, ACT and GED test prep is also available.
Whether they are stuck on a particularly confusing math problem, or struggling to understand a biology concept, students can go to the Chelsea District Library’s home page, click on HelpNow, and receive the live support needed to work through the problem.
Students who need regular support can work with a tutor as well as access HelpNow’s Skills Building service. With Skills Building, tutors help students in grades 3-12 master core academic skills through state-aligned lessons.
Edith Donnell, a youth librarian, can’t wait for parents to discover Skills Building. She says in a press release,“We see students come to the library every day to work with in-person tutors in study rooms, but not every family can afford a personal tutor. Skills Building offers families the chance to get their children the tutoring they need, either at the library or at home. These are live, one-on-one lessons from tutors, not just an automated study resource.”
Another great resource HelpNow provides is a 24-hour Writing Lab. Students submit their writing through the secure file-sharing system and within 24 hours, writing specialists evaluate it according to a customized rubric. Rubric categories include: response to task, organization, focus, word usage, and grammar.
Students can also talk to a live Writing Instructor to receive immediate feedback or have live one-on-one writing lessons.
Parents concerned about who might be chatting with their students online can rest easy.
“One of the first things we asked Brainfuse was how they vetted their tutors and oversaw the sessions,” said Ron Andrews, Technology Librarian. “HelpNow tutors undergo background and reference checks, multiple screening interviews, and skills testing. They even require a postgraduate degree, so students are always talking to someone with six years of higher education.”
Preference is given to certified teachers and individuals with prior tutoring experience. Brainfuse monitors sessions for evaluation purposes, reviews archived session transcripts, and maintains regular contact with all tutors.
For parents and students interested in learning more about how to use this powerful resource, a library session, Introduction to Brainfuse Online Homework Help is being offered at the library on Oct. 29, from 7-8 p.m. in the McKune Room.
To register for this program, call 475-8732, click here and click on the Calendar tab.
