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Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's Homework Hotline
continues to help middle and high school students better understand
mathematics and science in record numbers, with student tutors answering
44,151 calls during the 2007-08 school year.
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On Other End Of Line: Rose-Hulman
Institute of Technology students Elizabeth Deike and Bryan
Poulsen were among more than 100 students that helped answer a
record 44,151 calls during the 2007-08 school year. |
This year's total for the toll-free tutoring service,
supported by Lilly Endowment Inc., topped the previous record of 43,353
from the 2006-07 school year and increased the number of students helped
to more than 250,000 since the program’s inception in 1991.
“We’re pleased to be a valuable educational resource for
students, teachers and administrators throughout Indiana,” stated
Homework Hotline Director Susan Smith, who also serves as director of
Rose-Hulman's Learning Center and assistant professor of English. “Our
continued success wouldn't be possible without the strong support of
Lilly Endowment Inc., Rose-Hulman and our dedicated student tutors."
Approximately 30 tutors, specially selected Rose-Hulman
students, were available to answer calls from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Sundays
through Thursdays, from early September through May 15.
The Homework Hotline received calls from every Indiana
county this school year. Counties having the largest call volumes were
Marion County (Indianapolis), 5,909 calls; Hamilton County
(Carmel/Noblesville/Fishers), 2,132; Allen County (Fort Wayne), 1,983;
Lake County (Gary/Merrillville), 1,416; St. Joseph County (South Bend),
1,411; and Vigo County, 1,158.
A clear majority of the calls received this year were
regards to mathematics problems (33,984 calls).
This school year, the Homework Hotline piloted an
online, real-time tutoring system to further assist Indiana students
needing assistance understanding mathematics and science principles.
This project and other educational resources may be expanded in the
future, according to Smith.
“We’re always examining how we can help more students
and what’s the best form of technology to assist and enhance the
educational process during the evening,” Smith said.
Tutoring and reference materials available through the
Homework Hotline's Web site (www.askrose.org)
are enhancing student interest in math and science, reinforcing basic
concepts and helping students develop better problem-solving skills,
according to Kimberly LaComba, Assistant Director of the Homework
Hotline. She noted that each homework inquiry receives an individual
response from a student tutor, and that student satisfaction is very
high for Homework Hotline services.
The Homework Hotline was originally launched in 1991 to
help students in the Vigo County School Corporation. Lilly Endowment
grants have helped the service become a statewide educational resource
since 2002-03.
Ninety-seven percent of respondents to student user
phone surveys during 2007-08 stated that the Homework Hotline tutors
helped them understand how to find the right answer to a homework
problem. An amazing 99 percent of callers stated that they planned to
utilize the hotline again in the future, and 99 percent stated they
would recommend the service to other students.
Besides working with schools, the Homework Hotline has
also developed partnerships with Indiana libraries and school media
centers and is collaborating with community organizations that serve
youth.
The Homework Hotline is scheduled to begin for the
2008-09 school year on Sept. 7.
For more information about Rose-Hulman’s Homework Hotline, persons can
visit the service’s Web site at
www.askrose.org.
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