SMARTHINKING Online Academic Tutoring & Writing Service Debi Howarth Project Manager - Smarthinking Information Services (Learning & Teaching)

E mail Sent to YOU!

What is Smarthinking? Synchronous and asynchronous access to tutoring up to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Students:  Connect with an e-structor for live tutoring.  Submit text for review and critique.  Submit questions and receive a reply the next day.  Can access up to 3hrs online synchronous tutoring and / or asynchronous tutoring during this semester only (free). Purchase more (own expense)  Should refer all content issues to their tutor.  Should not refer technology queries to tutors or lecturers. Only through ST itself, Griffith IT Help or Project Manager.

What Subject Areas are Covered? Sample: Mathematics Basic Math, Algebra, Geometry/Trig, Calculus I & II, Statistics, Microeconomic Principles, Macroeconomic Principles Business Studies Economics I and II, Finance, and Accounting Science Biology, Introductory Human Anatomy & Physiology, Physics, and Chemistry Writing Grammar, Composition, and ESL

How do ST e-structors help students? SMARTHINKING e-structors will  Engage you in discussion (if using synchronous access)  Provide written feedback on essays/paragraphs  Suggest problem-solving strategies (e.g. for Mathematics)  Encourage you with constructive, critical feedback  Help you to see areas where your work can be improved  Suggest another section of the ST service if necessary e.g. ESL

Targeted Courses Your course is one of 8 that have been chosen. Several thousand students will have access during Semester 2 Why? Needed to trial courses with different assessment approaches and to offer to students with different needs

How do you access Smarthinking? Click on the ST button in tabs

Home Page

Connect with e-structor: Drop down menu shows currently available subjects. User can submit a question to the whiteboard and undertake a synchronous session with an e-structor. Schedule a personal session: User can preschedule a live session with the e-structor. Cancellation inside 48hrs will incur cost to the user. Submit your writing: Simply upload a piece of text for evaluation by the e –structor. Provide details of what you want the e-structor to look at specifically. Length of writing will determine how much time is deducted from allowance. Usually 40 or 60 mins (quite a lot of time so draft should be advanced) plus 5 mins admin. Submit a question: A subject is chosen from the drop down menu and a question submitted. 24hr turn around, usually. Academic Resources: A small group of online handbooks e.g. Accountig Glossary, ST Study Handbook. One section (Mathematics) takes students to a number of external links including the Rice Virtual Lab (statistics-simulations and demonstrations). Features Tutorial Link

“ Hi Deb, You spoke briefly at one of my economics lectures last week about Smarthinking. I just thought you might appreciate some early feedback as I have just used it for the first time. It was FANTASTIC. It was so handy to have someone available right away when I hit a problem in my study. They took me through the problem and pointed out some solutions and I was able to get right back on track and not waste (typically) hours searching for the solution. Nate 5 August 2010 Sample Synchronous Interaction Demand and supply

Mathematics online interaction - about factorisation; least common multiple

Sample Writing Feedback Link to OWL Live Session

OWL-Submission

Student Handbook Accessed through page

Student Handbook Accessed through Course Page

Further Assistance  Smarthinking – part of a suite of support services.  Learning Services – free personal consultations, workshops, e mail submission/query  Learning Services Guide at Library Homepage training

Contact Details Debi Howarth Project Manager - Smarthinking Academic Skills Adviser Information Services (Learning & Teaching)