FREE TUTORING OFFERED AT LIBRARY GRANT PAYS FEE FOR INDIVIDUAL HELP ONLINE.Byline: Helen Helen, in Greek mythology, the most beautiful of women; daughter of Leda and Zeus, and sister of Castor and Pollux and Clytemnestra. While still a young girl Helen was abducted to Attica by Theseus and Polydeuces, but Castor and Pollux rescued her. Gao Staff Writer BURBANK - Filling a gap in services for students, the Burbank Central Library is offering a new online homework program for those struggling in math, English and other subjects. Through a $5,000 state grant, the library has set up a computer terminal that offers Tutor TUTOR - A Scripting language on PLATO systems from CDC. ["The TUTOR Language", Bruce Sherwood, Control Data, 1977]. .com's Live Homework Help Program for students in fifth through 12th grades. The program features 20-minute tutoring sessions in math, science, social studies and English by certified teachers A certified teacher is a teacher who has earned credentials from an authoritative source, such as the government, a higher education institution or a private source. These certifications allow teachers to teach in schools which require authorization in general, as well as allowing , college professors and graduate students who have undergone criminal background checks. Typically, private subscribers of the service pay $45 per session, but the library is offering it for free. The same program is expected to be introduced at the Glendale Central Library, with four dedicated computer terminals, as early as the end of this month. ``If you are stuck on a math problem - either algebra algebra, branch of mathematics concerned with operations on sets of numbers or other elements that are often represented by symbols. Algebra is a generalization of arithmetic and gains much of its power from dealing symbolically with elements and operations (such as or trigonometry trigonometry [Gr.,=measurement of triangles], a specialized area of geometry concerned with the properties of and relations among the parts of a triangle. Spherical trigonometry is concerned with the study of triangles on the surface of a sphere rather than in the , if you need help with chemistry, if you are not sure if your English essay is as good as it can be, you can come here for help,'' said Holly Ziman, library coordinator of services for young adults in Burbank. ``It's private. You are in a chat room with a tutor. You have (the tutor's) full attention.'' To use the program, a student first clicks on the subject and the grade level in which tutoring is sought. The chat room then pops up. A student can use a virtual pencil on a side tool bar to write out a question. Then a tutor who is already logged on immediately responds. Most students have yet to discover the program, installed March 1. On a recent day, many who were doing their homework in the library were unaware of its existence. Helen Kim, whose daughter, Jenny, used the program for the first time Wednesday afternoon, was impressed im·press 1 tr.v. im·pressed, im·press·ing, im·press·es 1. To affect strongly, often favorably: . ``It's a very good program,'' she said. ``We looked for a tutor, but we have no money.'' Augen Batou, a Bellarmine Jefferson High School Jefferson High School is the name of numerous high schools in the United States, most named in honor of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, including:
``I've heard of online tutoring Online tutoring refers to the process by which knowledge is imparted from a tutor, knowledge provider or expert to a student or knowledge recipient over the Internet. Online tutoring has been around almost as long as the Internet and takes the following form: like this, but you usually have to pay for it,'' said Batou, who hadn't yet tried the library's program. ``I think it is a really good idea if your teacher is not around. It's better to have something explained to you than to read it in a book.'' The same program is expected to be introduced at the Glendale Central Library, with four dedicated computer terminals, as early as the end of this month. ``We have a huge student client group here after school,'' said Kathy Sheppard, development coordinator for the library. ``This is kind of a step toward a homework center.'' The Burbank Live Homework Help terminal is available for use from 3 to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Burbank Central Library, 110 N. Glenoaks Blvd. The service will be available at least until Sept. 20 and then, depending on public response, may be extended. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Holly Ziman, a library coordinator in Burbank, sits at a terminal offering free homework help for students in fifth through 12th grades from online tutors. Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer |
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