by Wendy Grisham
While I was a student at West Georgia, I never sought help from a tutor or the Writing Center on campus, and I rarely approached my professors. I certainly could have benefitted from their assistance, but I was too self-conscious. I didn’t like the idea of having someone scrutinize my work and thought processes right in front of me. These same feelings of inadequacy kept me from speaking up in the classroom and being an active participant in discussions. Had online courses been an option for me then, I think I may have thrived and taken advantage of those resources.
When thinking about those who might benefit most from taking online courses, we cite military personnel, working adults, single parents, those seeking career advancement, etc. Rarely are personality traits targeted for marketing. Those who are shy, introverted, and/or frustrated by the more dominant students are all excellent candidates for online learning. Online courses provide multiple opportunities for success to a variety of students who may not have sought it or found it otherwise.
Aside from the tools and techniques used in the online course itself, there is a plethora of student services offered to online learners at UWG. Online tutoring is one of the best and most accessible options available. Through programs like Smarthinking, students are able to schedule a private online tutoring session, chat live with a tutor, submit a question, and submit an essay (among other things) for review. All of these actions can be taken from the privacy of one’s own home and from within the confines of one’s own schedule.
Students who rely solely on campus resources must often abide by the scheduled times of a tutor or an office’s hours of operation. They may be limited by the types of tutors and tutoring available. For example, campus tutors may be restricted to particular departments with the funds and resources available for that semester or academic year. Students may also be limited to the amount of time spent with a tutor. However, Smarthinking offers tutoring services in multiple subjects and is accessible 24/7. Students may avoid meeting a tutor in person on campus simply because they are embarrassed or uncomfortable, like I often was. Smarthinking offers both synchronous and asynchronous options, so using its services is the perfect solution for these students. They can receive feedback without ever having to see or speak with the tutor!
UWG|Online has teamed up with the QEP Committee, the Writing Center, and the Office of Academic Affairs to offer Smarthinking for free to all UWG students this spring semester. Students may access Smarthinking from the CourseDen homepage (see the “Resource Center” widget) or from within an individual course, if the instructor has provided that option. No special software installation or equipment is required.
Faculty can provide their students with access to Smarthinking directly from their CourseDen courses by contacting UWG|Online. Upon request, UWG|Online places a resource module into the course(s). The module consists of the integrated link to Smarthinking, instructions and resources, and other important requested UWG resources for students.
For information about Smarthinking and its services, contact UWG|Online at online@westga.edu or 678-839-6248.
Wendy Grisham is an instructional designer for UWG|Online.
