I was stunned. I was at the bookstore with my son to buy his college textbooks and was aghast that several of them cost more than $100 each! Why haven’t textbooks gotten smaller, lighter and cheaper over time the way computers and so many other things have done? And if textbooks have gotten more expensive, have they gotten better?
When I was in high school there were some math concepts I just didn’t “get.” My mother arranged for my teacher to tutor me after school. Within a month my tutor filled in those critical skill gaps and I finally “got it.” I could apply these skills in new areas – from algebra to physics, to chemistry, stats, etc. I was really unstoppable once I had this solid foundation.
What magic textbook did my tutor use? He didn’t use any textbook at all. He had a good sense of what I was supposed to know at that grade and he gave me some problems to figure out if I knew how to do those things. If I didn’t, he worked through the steps so I knew what to do.
Are textbooks better than other tools? In the last few years I have seen engaging software tools and resources that take learning to a whole new level. Simulations, animations and videos bring things to life in ways printed materials can’t.
While my math textbook showed me a few examples while modern day simulation tools let a student create an infinite number of their own examples and scenarios..
Should children continue to use textbooks? It’ss definitely easier to hand out a book and know each student can access the material at home, on the bus, in the library and the classroom without specialized equipment, connectivity or power. It’s nice to know exactly what each student is looking at on a particular page.
But can we reach a state where no one needs pencil and paper and instead, interactive computer-based tools bring fresher information with up-to-the-second corrections, unlimited examples and a sense of control? A book can’t learn what you’ve done and make recommendations for what you need to do next. A learning management system can.
Can we usher in a world of “no more pencils, no more books?” What are the advantages of a textbook? Do you think there’s a better way? Is there a way to implement this better way? I welcome your ideas and feedback.
John Stuppy, john@tutorvista.com
Monday, October 29, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
How To Pick the Perfect Puppy: Is There a "Pop-test" for Students?
I love dogs. Well, I love good dogs – ones that are good defenders but not aggressive. They like to play, but know when it’s time to relax. Oh. And one that doesn’t tell a burglar where all the good stuff is in the house for the price of a pat and a scratch!
So how do you pick the perfect puppy? I have had good luck with my own K9 SAT, also known as the “Pop-test.” Take a brown paper sack, fill it with air and close the opening with your fist, then smack it down into the palm of your hand to make a huge popping noise.
The results are usually that the puppy that passes out won’t hold up to the rigors of yard patrol, visitors and the occasional dropped dish. Ones that bite the bag (and the hand holding it) are predictably unpredictable -- better to stay clear of those. Ones that don’t notice could be deaf or too much of a slug. But the ones that jump up inquisitively and want to check it out are the kinds of pups that can make good dogs.
Is there a “Pop-test” for children? What about high-stakes tests like the SAT? Is this a Pop-test that can accurately determine which college should accept a student? In many parts of the world, high stakes tests determine completely where a child can go to school . If there are 351 openings in the class and you scored 349th, you’re in! If you scored 352nd from the top on the test, you’re out of luck.
In the US however, college admission is more complex. Many colleges take into consideration high SAT scores, exemplary grades, letters of reference, athletics, community service and special circumstances. With all those factors, it’s hard to imagine how a school can make the best overall choices regarding incoming students.
Seniors in high school may be surprised (and a bit concerned) to see the lines on college applications requesting information on activities, groups, volunteerism, sports, etc. It would be too late do a project, recast grades for the last few years or try out for the football team at this point.
About the only thing the student can likely improve is his or her SAT or ACT test. Students may think “I’ve been through high school so I’m naturally ready for the SAT.” Wrong. Or, “You can’t prepare for a test like that.” Wrong again.
Knowing even just a few things about these tests can help students better their scores. And regardless of the debate over the fairness of such tests, a better score can only help.
I read a recent article in Money magazine that chided parents for spending money on SAT and ACT prep courses, college application counseling and other services. But if you’re a puppy in the basket, do you want to run the wrong way or do the wrong thing when you get the Pop-test? It's best to figure out how to improve your chances of getting picked to be in a good home.
POP!
I welcome your thoughts and feedback.
John Stuppy, john@tutorvista.com
So how do you pick the perfect puppy? I have had good luck with my own K9 SAT, also known as the “Pop-test.” Take a brown paper sack, fill it with air and close the opening with your fist, then smack it down into the palm of your hand to make a huge popping noise.
The results are usually that the puppy that passes out won’t hold up to the rigors of yard patrol, visitors and the occasional dropped dish. Ones that bite the bag (and the hand holding it) are predictably unpredictable -- better to stay clear of those. Ones that don’t notice could be deaf or too much of a slug. But the ones that jump up inquisitively and want to check it out are the kinds of pups that can make good dogs.
Is there a “Pop-test” for children? What about high-stakes tests like the SAT? Is this a Pop-test that can accurately determine which college should accept a student? In many parts of the world, high stakes tests determine completely where a child can go to school . If there are 351 openings in the class and you scored 349th, you’re in! If you scored 352nd from the top on the test, you’re out of luck.
In the US however, college admission is more complex. Many colleges take into consideration high SAT scores, exemplary grades, letters of reference, athletics, community service and special circumstances. With all those factors, it’s hard to imagine how a school can make the best overall choices regarding incoming students.
Seniors in high school may be surprised (and a bit concerned) to see the lines on college applications requesting information on activities, groups, volunteerism, sports, etc. It would be too late do a project, recast grades for the last few years or try out for the football team at this point.
About the only thing the student can likely improve is his or her SAT or ACT test. Students may think “I’ve been through high school so I’m naturally ready for the SAT.” Wrong. Or, “You can’t prepare for a test like that.” Wrong again.
Knowing even just a few things about these tests can help students better their scores. And regardless of the debate over the fairness of such tests, a better score can only help.
I read a recent article in Money magazine that chided parents for spending money on SAT and ACT prep courses, college application counseling and other services. But if you’re a puppy in the basket, do you want to run the wrong way or do the wrong thing when you get the Pop-test? It's best to figure out how to improve your chances of getting picked to be in a good home.
POP!
I welcome your thoughts and feedback.
John Stuppy, john@tutorvista.com
Monday, October 15, 2007
Online Dating & Tutoring
I was at a conference recently and during a session on viral marketing, one of the panelists talked about the value of community-building – how beneficial it is to attract people to your site and motivate those loyal members to invite others. This is the key to the success of internet powerhouses like FaceBook and MySpace.
The panelist then cited the dichotomy of online dating sites. They are popular and used by many people who value the service, but those same people rarely tell their friends they are on the site. These sites may have loyal fans but those fans aren’t inclined to tell people they use the product or how well the service has worked for them.
As I listened, it struck me how many parents who have been using tutoring for their children for years do the same thing. Like online dating, tutoring is something people find worthwhile but they don’t tell anyone they are using it. Why is that? Why the “tutor-but-don’t-tell” practice? Are people embarrassed their children need help?
Tutoring is a sensible resource for all students – those who are struggling, the ones who are keeping up and students who want to get ahead. But some parents may feel there is a stigma attached to tutoring. The reality is, those parents are acting in their child’s best interest. Tutoring empowers children by helping them overcome educational obstacles. So why did my friends not want to tell anyone they were getting tutoring for their kids?
Or could they be trying to get a competitive edge for their kids? Friends are friends, but if your kid is competing with the neighbor’s kid for admission to the local university, I suppose there’s some logic to it. You would think though that kids who are in the same school, who have the same teachers, perhaps go to the same orthodontist, could each use tutoring to improve their situation.
If you’ve seen kids who were struggling and saw the effect it had on their self-esteem, then saw the effect that tutoring and the subsequent improvement had on them, you would agree that individualized help and attention is essential. I struggled with some key concepts in math and algebra, received tutoring and it made all the difference. Nothing is better than the smile on the face of a child who once struggled, and is now proud of their grades and accomplishments. You know that every child deserves tutoring.
Isn’t the world a better place if more students learn what they are supposed to and leave school as capable, skilled, productive young adults? Isn’t it better for society to make resources available to everyone which are proven effective?
I welcome your thoughts.
John Stuppy, john@tutorvista.com
The panelist then cited the dichotomy of online dating sites. They are popular and used by many people who value the service, but those same people rarely tell their friends they are on the site. These sites may have loyal fans but those fans aren’t inclined to tell people they use the product or how well the service has worked for them.
As I listened, it struck me how many parents who have been using tutoring for their children for years do the same thing. Like online dating, tutoring is something people find worthwhile but they don’t tell anyone they are using it. Why is that? Why the “tutor-but-don’t-tell” practice? Are people embarrassed their children need help?
Tutoring is a sensible resource for all students – those who are struggling, the ones who are keeping up and students who want to get ahead. But some parents may feel there is a stigma attached to tutoring. The reality is, those parents are acting in their child’s best interest. Tutoring empowers children by helping them overcome educational obstacles. So why did my friends not want to tell anyone they were getting tutoring for their kids?
Or could they be trying to get a competitive edge for their kids? Friends are friends, but if your kid is competing with the neighbor’s kid for admission to the local university, I suppose there’s some logic to it. You would think though that kids who are in the same school, who have the same teachers, perhaps go to the same orthodontist, could each use tutoring to improve their situation.
If you’ve seen kids who were struggling and saw the effect it had on their self-esteem, then saw the effect that tutoring and the subsequent improvement had on them, you would agree that individualized help and attention is essential. I struggled with some key concepts in math and algebra, received tutoring and it made all the difference. Nothing is better than the smile on the face of a child who once struggled, and is now proud of their grades and accomplishments. You know that every child deserves tutoring.
Isn’t the world a better place if more students learn what they are supposed to and leave school as capable, skilled, productive young adults? Isn’t it better for society to make resources available to everyone which are proven effective?
I welcome your thoughts.
John Stuppy, john@tutorvista.com
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