The tutoring landscape in the United States has rapidly evolved, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To support schools in overcoming the educational challenges exacerbated by the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Education has invested $220 million since 2022 in tutoring programs.
Many school districts now offer voluntary tutoring initiatives, enabling students to easily access these services through their school’s online platforms.
THE ADVANTAGES OF IN-CLASS TUTORING
According to Susanna Loeb, executive director of the National Student Support Accelerator, the increase in private tutoring spending largely reflects the investments made by affluent families, contributing to educational disparities among different socioeconomic groups.
She argues that integrating tutoring into classroom schedules is the most effective approach.
For optimal impact, she recommends that tutoring sessions last at least 30 minutes and occur three times a week.
Loeb’s research shows that free tutoring embedded within the school day leads to improved student attendance and enhances academic performance in essential subjects like reading and mathematics.
GOAL SETTING FOR TUTORING SUCCESS
Surani Joshua, a doctoral student specializing in mathematics education at Arizona State University, emphasizes the need for parents to articulate their objectives clearly before hiring a tutor for their child.
Focusing on the learning journey instead of merely performance outcomes is vital.
Students should be encouraged to actively participate in their learning process rather than passively receiving information.
Joshua advocates for a tutoring approach that allows students to make mistakes, which can then be addressed constructively.
This reflective practice helps students gain valuable skills that extend beyond their time with a tutor.
TUTORING AND AFFLUENT STUDENTS
Pawan Dhingra, a sociology and American studies professor at Amherst College, raises concerns about how after-school tutoring programs disproportionately benefit well-off children.
Through interviews with more than 100 families, especially within Asian American and white communities, Dhingra noted a growing pressure among parents for their children to exceed their current academic levels.
One school principal shared that the skills acquired through tutoring often lead to feelings of inadequacy among peers who are not enrolled in such programs, as those receiving tutoring display notably higher academic performance.
Anne Trumbore, the chief digital learning officer at the University of Virginia, explores how ChatGPT could enhance student learning experiences.
This AI-powered chatbot, equipped with extensive knowledge across various educational subjects, has even demonstrated the ability to pass graduate-level exams.
Trumbore highlights that advanced chatbots can deliver richer learning interactions.
She references studies showing that earlier AI chatbots engaged students through interactive dialogue, achieving results on par with those of traditional human tutors.
This article is based on discussions from The Conversation and is distributed under a Creative Commons license.
You can find the original piece here.
Source: The74million