yourtutor Extra Sessions

Newspaper mama, everyday: yourtutor in the news (apologies to Peter Combe)

2012-02-01T09:23:00.002+11:00

When I get five minutes, it's nice to catch up on blog reading and flick through news websites. It's even nicer when yourtutor keeps popping up ;) Ok, I'll share just a few, if you insist..

yourtutor in the Red Centre yesterday, launched for 2012 by Alice Springs Mayor Damien Ryan:

http://alicenow.com.au/news/article/get-free-help-at-the-library

TAFE Western NSW students get free yourtutor access in 2012:

http://www.wit.tafensw.edu.au/news/tafe-western-expands-its-support-services-to-students

http://www.wellingtontimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/new-service-for-tafe-students/2431140.aspx

And in Orange: The team at Central West Libraries are seeing hundreds of primary, secondary, TAFE, university and pathways students use the free online tutoring service 'yourtutor'.

http://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/news/local/news/general/online-tutor-makes-studies-simpler/2412930.aspx

Library manager Georgina Davison and Mayor Damien Ryan view yourtutor.

PICTURE: Barry Skipse. Photo from: The Centralian Advocate

Back-to-school 2012 is officially here: The yourtutor Online Homework Centre re-opens today

2012-01-23T09:37:00.001+11:00

The Online Homework Centre re-opens today!

Remember, more than 50% of Australian local government areas have free access from 4pm weekdays. Schools, TAFEs, universities, and community groups have access from 3pm weekdays and Sunday plus educators have access to data and learning outcomes.

Not only is the yourtutor Online Homework Centre re-opening today for 2012, we're launching a brand new video, take a quick look and tell us what you think.

What is yourtutor? A quick video for students (of all ages!) and for those of us who like quality entertainment :)

Six reasons why public libraries should be the first stop on the NBN’s roll out

2012-01-05T21:00:00.000+11:00

See the article on the Australian Policy Online website.

Six reasons why public libraries should be the first stop on the NBN’s roll out

- Jack Goodman
As the National Broadband Network arrives in its first release sites across Australia, it brings high expectations of the world leading investment of $40 billion. It also carries heavy political baggage. If the Australian government wants to show quickly the benefits of the NBN to a very large part of the Australian population, it should connect it to every one of the nation’s nearly 1500 public libraries as a priority.

Here are six reasons why:

1. Public libraries are by far the most heavily used community agencies in Australia – more than half the population are public library members, who make over 130 million visits a year to local public libraries.

2. Public libraries are the only places in communities that provide open and free access to the internet, and increasingly wifi, for everyone – stop by your local library and you’re likely to see every terminal in use and many accessing the library’s wifi.

3. Public libraries are about learning – they play a critical role in the delivery of educational services and lifelong learning for all in Australia, including immigrants and refugees. They provide homework support for students, support for home-schooled students and their parents, research help with legal, health and job-related needs, access to a very large range of informational databases, as well classes and one-to-one programs to help seniors and others capitalise on the new technologies. All these services utilise the Internet – every aspect of a public library’s educational mission would be transformed by unlimited access to high capacity and very fast broadband.

4. Public libraries typically have substantial IT infrastructure and expertise – in physical plant and hardware, networking and software licences – to make immediate use of the great improvements, which the NBN promises to bring to the online experiences of all Australians.

5. Public libraries are among the most trusted and safest of community destinations, the most heavily used and valued partnerships of state and local governments, and are the most heavily visited parts of council websites.

6. Public libraries – from substantial international and Australian research - represent a tremendous economic value with an outstanding return on investment (ROI) of between $4 and $8 for every dollar invested in them. Priority access to the fibre optic based NBN would amplify this ROI and provide an early demonstration of the return on investment of the NBN itself.

Yet the nation’s senior politicians and bureaucrats still seem unaware of the high-quality research, from Victoria and elsewhere, which confirms the great value communities place on local public libraries, and the Australian public library system as a whole. Do they know, for example, that the local library is typically the number one after-school destination for young people, and that many thousands of school and tertiary students regularly spend their time in their public library studying?

If the Gillard Government wants to demonstrate and publicise the “education revolution” that NBN underpins, it would do well to give priority to connecting the emerging NBN to the nation’s largest, most pervasive, and most accessible community learning and education asset – its public library system.

The town that saved Queensland

2011-11-24T10:15:00.001+11:00

Known as the 'Town that Saved Queensland', Gympie's proud heritage began in 1867 with the discovery of gold by prospector James Nash at the site now occupied by the Town Hall.

At the time, Queensland was facing bankruptcy due to drought and the fall in wool prices.

However, Nash made the five day journey down the Mary River from Maryborough and, after digging up 75 ounces of gold in six days, staked his claim.

The Gympie Gold Rush was on, injecting the boost to the Queensland economy that enabled the colony to survive.

Many thanks to Gympie Regional Libraries for sending this in, and for the history lesson!

Stay tuned in 2012 for the 'Love your Community' page at yourtutor.com.au - let's show thousands of visitors the best of your community.

Movember - half way!

2011-11-17T10:31:00.001+11:00

We'd love your support for the TA Movember campaign.

In fact, we heard a rumour that if the guys don't reach their target, the Mo is here to stay. And no one wants that...?! :)

Donate to: Jack
Donate to: Cam
Donate to: Adam

More about Movember Australia

"Everyone enjoys a good book at Fairfield City Libraries..."

2011-11-16T11:54:00.001+11:00

Thanks Fairfield for sharing!

And keep an eye out in 2012 for the dedicated communities and libraries hub page at yourtutor.com.au. We want all the students, educators, and families who visit to see how great your communities are.

"Everyone enjoys a good book at Fairfield City Libraries....."

It's that time of year...

2011-11-04T13:42:00.004+11:00

It’s Movember and time to focus on men’s health.

Some of the TA staff are donating their face again to the cause by growing a moustache for the entire month of November, and they need your support!

Please support our Movember campaign by making a donation:

Donate to: Jack
Donate to: Cameron
Donate to: Adam

Why men’s health?

1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime
This year 20,000 new cases of the disease will be diagnosed
1 in 8 men will experience depression in their lifetime

The Mo's will spark conversations and generate some laughs all in the name of raising awareness and vital funds for prostate cancer and male depression.

Many thanks for your support - and be sure to tell us about your own Movember efforts!

Playing favourites - more of our picks in the 'Love Your Community' comp

2011-10-24T10:24:00.017+11:00

Not to play favourites, but these latest entries into the 'Love Your Community' comp are too good not to show you now. (Ok, we are playing favourites a little...)

Remember, the best photos or videos that showcase your unique community will be promoted on a dedicated website for thousands of families who visit yourtutor.com.au. Shameless tourism promotions encouarged :)

Bankstown, NSW
Cricket has a long and honoured tradition in Bankstown - and we all want to play like a Waugh brother at Memorial Oval.

Frankston, VIC:
Oliver's Hill, a geographic and demographic divide connecting the Mornington Peninsula and the south eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Nice beach views too.

Rockdale, NSW
Just 12km from the Sydney CBD, fantastic people from over 80 different backgrounds. Close to the city, but look at these unexpected wide open spaces!

If you think your community has something worth showing the world, email info@yourtutor.com.au to do just that.

Love your postcode - 131 years ago!

2011-10-13T14:05:00.004+11:00

We had to show you these photos - submitted to the Love Your postcode comp by Herberton Library, QLD.

The first photo shows the start of tin mining in 1880. The second photo shows the same road just a few weeks ago as tin mining equipment moves in again to restart in 2011. The comparison is fascinating.

The team at Herberton says: "Google us, we’re well worth a visit." We agree. (And we hear Herberton is painted purple with jacarandas this time of year as well…)

Identifying the right problem is the first step to individual support for students

2011-10-13T13:54:00.002+11:00

A University of Sydney study of more than 3,000 students in eight different New South Wales schools has found repeating a child, with the intention of helping them catch up and get better educational outcomes, could have the opposite effect.

Professor Andrew Martin says the research found the students who repeated did not only suffer academically, but they also struggled in other ways. Professor Martin says the study, published in the British Educational Research Journal, found there were more effective ways to help students than repeating a year of school.

"We should be providing an educational response to these students," he said. "That means we identify the problem or issue at hand, and then provide targeted assistance to that child.”

SkillsBuilder and yourtutor do just this. Teachers can use SkillsBuilder's diagnostic capabilities to identify individual student issues, and yourtutor's on-demand tutors provide the additional after hours academic support students need to stay on track.

Click here to learn more about SkillsBuilder and yourtutor, and here to access the above mentioned article.

@yourtutor is tweeting

2011-10-10T08:16:00.008+11:00

twitter.com/yourtutor

Follow us and be the first to hear about SkillsBuilder and Online Classroom updates, innovative schools and libraries, online education news, and how Australia is addressing the digital divide.

Plus, you can look forward to a never-ending supply of student comments:

"I think it is just great they have free tudoring because I am always struggling with work and have no one to help me, yourtutor has helped me so much and I use it when ever I need help! I also love borrowing DVD's to keep me and my brother entertained we love to watch Doctor Who from the Library!" - student at ACT Libraries

"The librarians are really nice, there is a wide range of things to borrow (including games) and the Internet is really fast there making it easier to research. It is very quiet and peaceful letting public to read and do homework easily. The library is a great example of information sources. The librarians make it special :)" - student at Auburn Library Service

If you are a school, teacher, library, or librarian - let us know, we'd love to follow your news on Twitter as well.

Love your postcode

2011-10-07T09:13:00.009+11:00

Although the deadline is Nov 1, there are some exciting 'Love your postcode' campaign photos we just have to show you now.

What makes your community unique?

"Port Macquarie: Home of the world's only Koala Hospital."

"At the Bland Shire, we grow readers."
(Bland Shire is famous for its wheat, canola, sheep, and gold!)

"Guyra – Top of the Range, highest library in NSW"

Photo © Patrick Bingham-Hall.
"Tenterfield School of Arts Library, Museum & Theatre famous as site of Sir Henry Parkes’ Federation Speech on 24th October 1889"

Connecting Australian students to Australian experts; overcoming distance

2011-09-27T08:54:00.010+10:00

Update:

With National Broadband Network (NBN) access, students and the experts will share richer content in the yourtutor Online Classroom, including more HD video, animated, audio, video rich sites.

yourtutor works on any internet connection - but the NBN will allow even more.

This means a deeper and more engaged learning experience for a student who asks a schoolwork question. That student is going to go away feeling more confident and more interested in their study.

Even better, keep an eye out in coming months for big updates to the yourtutor Online Classroom which will allow connections via a range of mobile devices, including smart phones, tablets, netbooks, as well as laptops and desktops.

What makes your community unique?

2011-09-16T11:57:00.002+10:00

Whether your community is one of the largest, one of the smallest, or something in between, it's about time you received some recognition for what makes your local area great.

So we thought - let's give Australian and New Zealand communities some free publicity for all the hundreds of thousands of families who visit yourtutor.com.au.

A chance to say exactly why you believe your neighbourhood is the best. An opportunity to put your community up on an online billboard for the world to see.

So email us a photo that truly represents your community. (Public libraries - why not ask your members and collect ideas that way?)

What makes it unique, famous, or special? Maybe it's a photo of a national monument, maybe it's Noel and Muriel's pie shop on the highway, maybe it's an outstanding individual or group.

We'll put up your photo and what you want to say.

Want to be really outrageous? Send us a video link instead, we'll put that up too.

So - which photo sums up the best of your community?
Now that you've thought of it - send it in.

(P.S. There's a bonus prize for the best submissions, but we're keeping that under wraps...)

World's best will study Australian public libraries

2011-09-13T09:44:00.007+10:00

We recently received an email from one of the world’s leading public libraries, The State Library of Denmark, to set up a meeting here in Sydney to discuss the success of yourtutor in Australian public libraries.

It will be a great discussion, but more importantly it is a testament to Australian public libraries’ commitment to youth services. Without the support of so many public libraries, yourtutor would not be the service it is today.

Therefore, this meeting is momentous for what it represents - Australian public libraries showcasing the future of youth services to one of the world’s leading, and best funded, public library systems.

Scandinavian countries invest around three times per capita more into their public library systems when compared with Australia. So along with some interested library executives from Australia and New Zealand, so there will be valuable insight to be gained on all sides.

Take a look at the online tutor programme just being started, as discussed in the Scandinavian Public Library Quarterly: http://splq.info/issues/vol43_4/12.htm

Broncos reach 50,000+ literacy and numeracy questions with BOLT

2011-09-09T14:51:00.004+10:00

The Broncos are rounding out the season with a high-powered finish, but that hasn't stopped them helping young fans at six Brisbane primary schools, delivering literacy and numeracy education support through the Broncos Online Learning Tool (BOLT) program.

In just four months, students have tackled more than 50,000 maths and English questions, and have signed in more than 1,250 times to ask the live online experts questions about homework.

Watch the video: Dale Copley takes Justin Hodges, Corey Norman and David Hala to Raceview State Primary School to help some students with BOLT - Broncos Online Learning Tool.
http://bigpondvideo.com/NRL_Broncos/377532/dale-copley-makes-a-bolt-visit/

Balance beam, balanced equations - Australia's best young athletes now get the best of both worlds, after the AIS launch of yourtutor this week

2011-07-27T09:33:00.010+10:00

It's all about sport here at TA right now (and not just because everyone is talking about Cadel!)

The AIS launched yourtutor for its talented young athletes this week - helping the athletes maintain their homework and education, even after a hard day's training.

If you are familiar with yourtutor (and as you're reading this, there's a good chance you are) then you know that the on-demand schoolwork help with expert tutors will be a great help to the AIS students who spend time travelling, training, and generally leading very busy lives.

The launch by AIS means that these students have schoolwork help wherever they happen to be, and can jump on the nearest computer with an internet connection, and get as much guidance and feedback as they need - plus, all the thousands and thousands of practice SkillsBuilder questions in a range of school subjects.

The AIS says "Some research suggests that athletes with an integrated lifestyle are more likely to achieve their sporting goals, cope better with stress and injury, and have more confidence in what the future will hold after sport."

And if you've been following, you know that the Brisbane Broncos are sponsoring schools across the Brisbane area, giving students access to yourtutor and SkillsBuilder for practical education support and real outcomes. Go the Broncos.

Multi-tasking myths

2011-06-07T13:39:00.000+10:00

Even in the 1740s people were trying to do too much at the same time.

An English politician said about multi-tasking:

“There is time enough for everything in the course of the day, if you do but one thing at once, but there is not time enough in the year, if you will do two things at a time.”

Today's younger generation are often said to be good at multi-tasking. But studies show now that multi-tasking simply dilutes each task. What does this mean for homework-time?

The way a teacher from south Brisbane recently explained it: The yourtutor Online Classroom offers focused learning. A student might have 15 web browser tabs open all at once - but the tutor demands they give attention to that one, single task.

Not only is this true - if a student decides to multi-task and delay their tutorial conversation, the tutor will log out and help someone else!

The online tutorials involve individual, unique learning outcomes every time. The one-to-one session demands that the student concentrate, and creates an environment where that is possible.

Thank you for the feedback that started this discussion!

Good thinking: Exam workshops and yourtutor demonstrations

2011-06-01T12:01:00.001+10:00

Of course, we think this is a great idea by Penrith Library.
What's not to like?

HSC students keen to hear tips on preparing for their English exams this year should book a spot in a HSC English lecture to be held at Penrith Library on Monday, June 6. The topic is 'Belonging' and it will be discussed by English teacher Larry Grumley in the 6pm to 7.30pm lecture.

Students are encouraged to visit the library early because from 5.40pm there will be a live demonstration of Penrith Library's online tutoring service yourtutor. The lecture will be held in the Theatrette of the Penrith Library, next to Penrith Plaza. Tickets cost $5 each and are available at Penrith Library. Bookings: 4732 7891 or 4732 7889.

Good luck to all students getting ready for exams.

It's National Maths Day!

2011-05-19T14:08:00.000+10:00

In honor of Australian National Maths Day on 20 May, practice your long division, work out the surface area of a sphere, learn something new - or ask a maths expert and get the hang of something that you've always found difficult!

The Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers are behind the national day, and this year are promoting Australia's bid to host the world's largest telescope.

For extra credit: (Comment with your answer!)

"Which number when spelled out in English, has all its letters in alphabetical order?"

Which popular NRL team is giving kids homework help?

2011-05-11T10:37:00.000+10:00

Welcome to Acacia Ridge State School, Brassall State School, Goodna State School, Marsden State School, Raceview State Primary School, Yugumbir State School - all these schools now get yourtutor and yourtutor SkillsBuilder thanks to the NRL Brisbane Broncos!

The Broncos are dedicated to getting their youth fan base off to the best possible start in school, with high quality online literacy and numeracy quizzes and on-demand help from expert Australian tutors. (So students can fit in their homework AND footy practice!)

TA staff are attending the launch of the BOLT program (Broncos Online Learning Tool) and look forward to a sunny Queensland day with Broncos players, teachers, and students.

The BOLT launch coincides with this week's national NAPLAN testing. Good luck to teachers, parents, and students working with NAPLAN next week. (This week, the number of literacy, numeracy, and core curricula questions answered using SkillsBuilder reached 300,000! That's a lot of well-prepared schools.)

It's Feedback Friday! What students are saying...

2011-04-29T10:02:00.000+10:00

A lovely email we received from a Brisbane student - thanks for your feedback! It's always appreciated and we're glad to help.

----------

Forwarded message 

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From: [ Email withheld ]

Date: Thu, Apr 28, 2011 at 9:21 PM

Subject: Thankyou

To: info@yourtutor.com.au

Hello, I just wanted to thank the your tutor teamfor being such a big help. I have received alot of useful feedback and comments from your tutors throughout my high school years. Its always a great feeling to have somebody be by yourside and guide through possible improvements and tell you that your doing great.

Thankyou again :)

While we want to help everyone, this student was disappointed with our strict 'no giving answers' policy. We hope this student gets the guidance they need next time (although the tutor still won't finish homework for you!)

"Disappointing. She didn't give me the answer."
Emerald, QLD, Year 9

And just because we can - more student comments!

"The tutor was very helpful and he taught me different ways of revising for a test. He was very good."
Parramatta, NSW, Year 7

"I was having a bit of a problem getting started with my essay, I wasn't sure if it was informative or analytical or how to start it, mainly needed a refreshment upon my essay structuring and so on. I found the tutor extraordinarily helpful, would recommend it to anybody who is in even the slightest bit of confusion. I chose to come on here because being in year 12 and all, every tiny mark counts in a 35% essay :) thankyou a lot.”
Canberra, ACT, Year 12

Australian Fed Govt - national survey on cyber safety

2011-04-21T08:50:00.002+10:00

The Australian Federal Government is conducting a national survey on cyber safety, and want feedback from youth aged 5-18

It's all about online shopping, online learning, and online socialising. With so much focus on the online past times of today's kids and students, the Federal Government wants recommendations from those kids about what the Government can do to monitor and restrict access and activity in response to widespread public discussion.

"The Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety believes the input of young people is critical in its inquiry and will be invaluable in making reasoned conclusions and viable recommendations to government."

Youth aged 5-18 can access the survey here: www.aph.gov.au/cybersafety

(And the survey is completely anonymous.)

The survey is available until Wednesday 27April 2011.

Congratulations to St Joachim's Primary School in Carrum Downs, Victoria!

2011-04-05T15:49:00.001+10:00

The school won a 12 month subscription to SkillsBuilder - Australia's only service for teachers and school leaders that sets, marks, and measures, and manages student performance before national testing.

SkillsBuilder aims to support teaching staff by removing the hours of administration that can go into every day. SkillsBuilder includes thousands of syllabus-based, ready-to-use questions that teachers can select and assign plus more features across all core subjects.

Principal Des Noack picked up the prize while at the recent Victorian Association of Catholic Primary School Principals conference.

Congratulations again, we look forward to supporting the staff at St Joachim's in 2011!

Thanks for your help - our new website has arrived!

2011-03-31T08:33:00.010+11:00

You've been asking, and now the website is finally here! (Apologies for the two week delay, and thank you for your enquiries. We were trying to get it just right, and we hope you are happy with the result. After all, it's designed to be faster, better, and easier for you to use. So take a tour of yourtutor.com.au and let us know what you think.)

The press statement released this morning:

"Tutoring Australasia today launches its sleek new website, entirely built from scratch with help from Australian teachers, librarians, and students.

CEO Jack Goodman said the focus for rebuilding were the thousands of teachers, parents, librarians, school leaders, and students of all ages who visit daily for academic help.

“It’s a huge and varied audience to take into account, so we relied heavily on the input and feedback complied over many years.

“And as a leading online service provider, it’s important our website stays sharp and reflects the needs of our clients and future clients.”

“Plus, we’re a company that runs our own race. It’s great to be able to take different directions to constantly give clients something new and interesting.”

The website launch follows the company’s new product launch for ‘yourtutor SkillsBuilder’ that takes a straightforward, no-fuss approach to supporting Australian teachers with their day-to-day work.

In just its first two months, SkillsBuilder has attracted the attention of over 50 schools around the country, with this number growing before NAPLAN testing in May and as school leaders search for new ways to keep the school competitive, and staff and parents happy.

“Before SkillsBuilder, there was nothing that genuinely and practically supported teachers and all the hours of work they have to put in. I was asked for years when we would release the SkillsBuilder tools,” says Goodman.

“2011 felt right and we were confident after many meetings with teachers and school leaders that we could launch SkillsBuilder as a useful and unique service.”

“The new website reflects this straightforward, practical, and friendly approach to helping our clients.”

“And because the website is based on feedback, it will never stop changing. We actively encourage input and we act on it.”

The website also offers a glimpse into the company’s well-known casual Head Office culture, offering visitors a view into the team’s activities, travels, and daily life, including several ‘easter eggs’ - perhaps appropriate for the time of year.