Academic Success Center Online Tutoring

The Academic Success Center (ASC) remains empty as in-person appointments are no longer available due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Rose Brannigan)

By Rose Brannigan | Contributor to the Bell Ringer

The Academic Success Center (ASC) has tutored Augusta University students in their courses through Microsoft Teams since March 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic caused a decrease in physical attendance.

Rachel Thompson, a biology tutor, has worked at the center for two years. “I noticed significantly less students attending once we moved online last spring. Not much changed in fall either,” she says.

The year 2020 was difficult for students as courses shifted online. Students had to adapt to a new way of learning.

“Our numbers for tutoring have gone down because we do not do walk-ins anymore. The ASC has definitely felt a hit from COVID-19,” says Thompson.

The ASC no longer provides in-person appointments for the protection of the staff and the students seeking help. Safety is the major concern for the ASC, but tutors have reached their own online obstacles to achieve success for their tutees.

“When we are in the ASC, we can use the whiteboards and other resources to connect with students and explain concepts. Online is more difficult to draw out a diagram or get students to write out equations for us to check,” says Thompson.

The ASC tutors had to attend an online workshop to know how to use Microsoft Teams to teach effectively. Tutors are constantly using the program for their scheduled appointments.

Doyin Oyelami, a chemistry tutor at the center for three years, has encountered a similar problem as Thompson. “I found that less people have been using the ASC because it has been online. Clients schedule thirty-minute appointments virtually whereas in-person, they would list which tutor they need to see for a class by dropping in,” says Oyelami.

Attendance online is lower than in-person tutoring. However, there is a steady attendance with scheduled appointments.

“Tutors clock into their shifts by logging into Microsoft Teams. Students would then go to the Academic Success Center website to schedule an online appointment,” says Oyelami.

Thompson and Oyelami are advertising for the ASC online tutoring so more people are aware that this free resource is available to every Augusta University student. They have advertised in classes and pitched its importance to clients, making sure they come back and seek further help if needed.

Thompson says, “If you have a class and you don’t know what is going on, there are people that will help you. You don’t have to struggle alone when there are people waiting for you to show up so they can help you”.