Smarthinking

 


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ABOUT SMARTHINKING

Smarthinking, a web-based service, is now available to the students of Western Texas College. As a supplement to our existing campus tutoring services, we are now offering real-time online tutoring and homework assistance for core courses 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Smarthinking, will provide WTC students with another learning option. This service is available whether you are stumped at 2 AM on a problem that is due the next morning, or need extra help in their writing assignment.
Smarthinking, is not an answering or proofreading/editing service. Students may access live tutoring in math (basic math to calculus II), economics (macro & micro), accounting, statistics, chemistry and writing (including ESL, general writing, creative writing and career writing.)
Smarthinking, is available to all WTC students from any Internet connection. Ask your instructor for password information or contact the Tutoring Center for assistance.

SMARTHINKING HOURS

LIVE TUTORING:

  • All Math Subjects: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • Chemistry, Economics, Statistics, Accounting, Writing: Sun-Thurs 1 PM to 10 PM PST, Fri & Sat 9 AM to 3 PM PST

QUESTION SUBMITTAL

  • All Subjects: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

SUBMIT YOUR WRITING

  • All Subjects: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

ACADEMIC RESOURCES

  • 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

ARCHIVES

  • 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

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SMARTHINKING "Estructors"

SMARTHINKING's e-structors (online tutors) are seasoned educators, most with advanced degrees in their fields. Drawn from among college faculty, graduate students, high school teachers and retired educators all e-structors must go through SMARTHINKING's online training program and are regularly evaluated for quality and consistency. Each academic area is led by one of SMARTHINKING's subject-area coordinators, all of whom are former college professors and experts in their disciplines.

E-structors will:

  • Encourage students with constructive criticism;
  • Help students identify areas for improvement;
  • Involve students in discussion and problem-solving strategies;
  • Treat students with respect.

E-structors will not:

  • Do assignments for the learner, give answers or write any portion of papers;
  • Review and correct errors without active participation of the learners;
  • Comment on grades or predict a possible grade.

CREDENTIALED - 80% have a Master's and 10% have a PhD in their discipline; on average, tutors have 12 years of teaching experience.
VERIFIED - screened by SMARTHINKING's in-house academic coordinators.
TRAINED - 4 module online training program plus "Practicum".
MONITORED - All interactions with students are saved. In-house coordinators evaluate performance.

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CORE COURSES

Access to qualified and monitored tutors in core courses and skills from any Internet connection.

  • Math (Basic Math through Calc II)
  • Economics (Macro & Micro)
  • Statistics
  • Accounting
  • Chemistry
  • Writing Spanish (Asynchronous support)

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LIVE WRITING CENTER

Students can access live help in writing between 3 PM and 1 AM Monday through Thursday and from noon to 6 PM Friday and Saturday.

  1. Students and E-structors work one-to-one in real time on a "Whiteboard," which resembles a chalkboard. Students can ask for assistance in developing an idea, a thesis, content, or in organizing concepts.
  2. Students can ask an E-structor for assistance with problems noted by their classroom instructor, (i.e. "My teacher circled comma splices in my paper. I don't know what comma splices are. Can you help me?")
  • Students can submit a writing question after hours to the Asynchronous Help Center and get a response within 25 hours.
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ESSAY CENTER

Students may submit a draft of their essays at any time of the day, on any day of the week.

  1. Provide a clear description of the essay assignment on the student submission form.
  2. Students are strongly urged to copy and paste your assignment guidelines into the essay submission form.
  • If E-structors have a precise description of the assignment, they will be able to offer on-point feedback.

WITHIN 24 HOURS, STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE THEIR ESSAY REVIEWS IN THE INBOX.

  1. View a sample estructor response.
  2. Estructors will not edit, proofread, or "fix" papers; instead, they provide feedback that will addresses concerns such as ideas, organization, content, focus in the first section of their response and concerns such as sentence structure, mechanics, and punctuation in the second section of their response.
  3. Students are free to submit more than one draft. Each time you submit a draft 30 minutes of the student's 10 hour per semester allotment will be deducted.
  • Note: Since estructors spend 30 minutes on each review; it is recommended that research papers be sent in for review in 5 page sections. In this way students will receive a more in depth review.

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LIVE TUTORING MATH CENTER

Students have access to a live math tutor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. View a sample math tutoring session.

  1. Students and estructors work one-to-one in real time on a "Whiteboard," which resembles a chalkboard.
  2. Students are able to Pre-Schedule a tutoring time upon request.
  3. Students are free to submit a question to a tutor, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Students are able to access the Academic Resources and Student Archives 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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ACCOUNTING, ECONOMICS, STATISTICS, CHEMISTRY

Students have access to live tutoring assistance Sunday through Thursday from 1:00 to 10 PM, and on Friday and Saturday from 9 AM to 3 PM.

  1. Students and E-structors work one-to-one in real time on a "Whiteboard," which resembles a chalkboard.
  2. Students are able to Pre-Schedule a tutoring time upon request.
  3. Students are free to submit a question to a tutor, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Students are able to access the Academic Resources and Student Archives 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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STUDENT FILING CABINET

screen

  1. All interactions that students have with tutors are saved and archived. It is here that a student can reference past tutorials, questions and essays. We encourage students to use these sessions as study tools.
  • The calendar highlights dates for prescheduled personal sessions.

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TECHNICAL PROBLEMS

Smarthinking, provides a toll-free number (1-888-438-7429) and e-mail customer service and technical support to your students. Students can access a customer service representative from noon to 9 p.m. EST or can send e-mail to a representative at support@smarthinking.com. In addition, the Smarthinking web site hosts an interactive demonstration of the service so that student can learn how it works. There is also a menu of Frequently Asked Questions available online.
Recommended minimum system requirements:
Pentium 100 processor (or MAC equivalent)
Netscape3.01, Communicator 4.0, or Internet Explorer 4.0(recommended for Macs)
56K modem recommended (28.8 K modem acceptable)