Podcast Series: Innovations in Education

Explore the full series of eSchool News podcasts hosted by Kevin Hogan—created to keep you on the cutting edge of innovations in education.

Free, online math tutoring for Title 1 schools

UPchieve is a nonprofit that provides free, online math tutoring to low-income high school students. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, UPchieve is working around the clock to make sure eligible schools can give their students access to UPchieve for free in as little as 24 hours.

100% free access to the UPchieve platform for eligible schools
UPchieve typically asks schools to pay a small fee to keep their nonprofit running. In response to the pandemic, UPchieve will waive this fee through the end of the school year so that any school that wants to give students access to online tutoring can. Any student who creates an account during this period can keep using UPchieve for free, forever.

School eligibility requirements
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Online tutoring, speech therapy among new eLearning solutions

FLVS' online tutoring is tracked by the minute, so students only pay for the time they use.

New options for online tutoring and speech therapy are among the latest eLearning solutions introduced during recent ed-tech trade shows.

For example, the Florida Virtual School (FLVS)—a pioneer in online instruction—announced new online tutoring and professional development offerings at the Florida Educational Technology Conference in January.

FLVS is now offering online tutoring for math and science for any student, not just those taking an FLVS course. FLVS online tutoring is available whenever students need it, the school says: any time, any place, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. All students need to participate is a computer, smart phone, or other mobile device and access to the internet.…Read More

$1.5M grant jump-starts teacher development

Tutor.com hopes to improve teaching by providing on-demand, one-to-one support for math teachers starting this year.

Tutor.com, which connects students with live tutors online for tutoring in math, science, social studies, and English, is the largest online tutoring and homework help service available—and, with help from a $1.5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the company is expanding its horizons to help teachers as well.

Thanks to the grant, awarded last November, the company hopes to help improve U.S. teaching by offering an innovative new professional development model that will provide on-demand, one-to-one support for math teachers starting this year.

Approximately 200 algebra teachers from selected schools will be able to access the service beginning in September 2011 and running through December 2012. Participating teachers will be able to connect with online teaching coaches for on-demand, one-to-one live help from Sunday through Thursday, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. local time. Coaches will be standing by and will provide live help within minutes of a teacher request, Tutor.com says.…Read More

Indiana students get online tutoring in math

At least 35,000 Indiana middle school and high school students will get online math tutoring as part of a state Department of Education pilot program, according to an Associated Press report. The after-school program links students with online tutors who help with math lessons. Students can earn gift cards or other prizes by participating in the one-on-one tutoring sessions. The Indiana Department of Education is spending about $1 million for the one-year program through the private company Apangea Learning. If officials see results, the state could renew the contract…

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