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Sara Matthews (left) tutors fellow Wittenberg student Laura Wilson in the Math Workshop.
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SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – Not only has Wittenberg University’s Math Workshop increased the hours students can find help with math problems and homework, the students who work as tutors are now certified by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA), an international organization that certifies effective college and university tutor training programs.
To become a Math Workshop tutor, students must first apply by providing a transcript that demonstrates their math abilities and two recommendations, after which they must complete a formal interview process. As the spring semester began in January, 36 Math Workshop tutors had achieved Level 1 certification from the CRLA.
A reception for the Math Workshop tutors who are receiving CRLA recognition is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, in Ness Auditorium, Hollenbeck Hall, on campus.
At Level 1, tutors are certified in basic tutor training, which means they have learned basic techniques, roles and responsibilities, how to initiate tutor groups and establish the right environment, and active listening and communications skills. Tutors must be confident they can meet the needs of students, and they must comply with the ethics and philosophy of the tutoring program. Six additional students are currently being trained at Level 1 to meet the goal of 40 peer tutors. Advanced levels of tutor training certification will be offered by the workshop through CRLA in the next three years.
Assistant Provost for Academic Services Lisa Rhine initiated the CRLA program on campus. Rhine and Assistant Director of the Math Workshop Kathy Johnson initially trained six students as head tutors, who in turn trained the others.
“I can’t say enough about the head tutors,” Rhine said. “Their excitement and enthusiasm is the reason for the tremendous success of the program.”
Josh Benoit of Hamilton, Ohio, class of 2005; Elizabeth Bourke of Spring Hill, Tenn., class of 2006; Lindsay Jacobs of Springfield, Ohio, class of 2006; Sara Matthews of Waterville, Ohio, class of 2006; Allison Myser of Columbus, Ohio, class of 2006; and Gina Flocken of Dublin, Ohio, class of 2006; currently serve as head tutors and will be the first to train for Level 2 certification, which concerns more specialized subject tutorials.
In addition to securing accreditation of the tutor program, Rhine and Johnson have scheduled new hours for the Math Workshop by tracking the flow of student use and altering the hours to meet student needs at no additional cost to the university.
The next item on the agenda is implementation of software specifically designed to help students increase their abilities and raise placement scores. The software allows students to complete tutorials in far less time – another in a series of changes intended to ensure the success of each Wittenberg student.
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