Virtual tutor support using SMARTHINKING: Preliminary findings

Jennifer McDonell; Mitchell Parkes; Belinda Tynan

Virtual tutor support using SMARTHINKING: Preliminary findings

Jennifer McDonell
, Mitchell Parkes
, Belinda Tynan

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

The University of New England (UNE) has been using a virtual tutoring service called SMARTHINKING since 2007. UNE explored the use of a "virtual tutor service" to support distance education students in their academic development; to reduce attrition; and to provide academic support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to all students with access to a computer irrespective of geographical location. A cascading selection of units across different disciplinary areas and cohorts of students were targeted for the virtual tutorial support service over 6 semesters to provide rich data. A survey consisting of 20 questions was developed and implemented at the end of each teaching period. Preliminary analysis of data indicates that SMARTHINKING appears to be making a difference to student learning outcomes. However, while uptake tends to be low in all cohorts but where students select to use the service they are positive about its effects.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Curriculum, technology & transformation for an unknown future: Ascilite 2010 Conference Proceedings
Editors	Emma Somogyi, CH Steel, MJ Keppell, P Gerbic, S Housego
Place of Publication	Brisbane, Australia
Publisher	University of Queensland
Pages	595-603
ISBN (Print)	9781742720166
Publication status	Published - 2010
Event	ASCILITE 2010: 27th Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education - Sydney, Australia Duration: 5 Dec 2010 → 8 Dec 2010

Conference

Conference	ASCILITE 2010: 27th Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education
City	Sydney, Australia
Period	5/12/10 → 8/12/10

Keywords

English and Literacy Curriculum and Pedagogy (excl LOTE, ESL and TESOL)
Specialist Studies in Education
Higher Education

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https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/9742

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Cite this

@inproceedings{06f4121cad0941b5be0081a5f485d77d,

title = "Virtual tutor support using SMARTHINKING: Preliminary findings",

abstract = "The University of New England (UNE) has been using a virtual tutoring service called SMARTHINKING since 2007. UNE explored the use of a {"}virtual tutor service{"} to support distance education students in their academic development; to reduce attrition; and to provide academic support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to all students with access to a computer irrespective of geographical location. A cascading selection of units across different disciplinary areas and cohorts of students were targeted for the virtual tutorial support service over 6 semesters to provide rich data. A survey consisting of 20 questions was developed and implemented at the end of each teaching period. Preliminary analysis of data indicates that SMARTHINKING appears to be making a difference to student learning outcomes. However, while uptake tends to be low in all cohorts but where students select to use the service they are positive about its effects.",

keywords = "English and Literacy Curriculum and Pedagogy (excl LOTE, ESL and TESOL), Specialist Studies in Education, Higher Education",

author = "Jennifer McDonell and Mitchell Parkes and Belinda Tynan",

year = "2010",

language = "English",

isbn = "9781742720166",

pages = "595--603",

editor = "Emma Somogyi and CH Steel and MJ Keppell and P Gerbic and S Housego",

booktitle = "Curriculum, technology \& transformation for an unknown future: Ascilite 2010 Conference Proceedings",

publisher = "University of Queensland",

note = "ASCILITE 2010: 27th Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education ; Conference date: 05-12-2010 Through 08-12-2010",

}

McDonell, J, Parkes, M & Tynan, B 2010, Virtual tutor support using SMARTHINKING: Preliminary findings. in E Somogyi, CH Steel, MJ Keppell, P Gerbic & S Housego (eds), Curriculum, technology & transformation for an unknown future: Ascilite 2010 Conference Proceedings. University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, pp. 595-603, ASCILITE 2010: 27th Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education, Sydney, Australia, 5/12/10. <https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/9742>

Virtual tutor support using SMARTHINKING: Preliminary findings. / McDonell, Jennifer; Parkes, Mitchell; Tynan, Belinda.
Curriculum, technology & transformation for an unknown future: Ascilite 2010 Conference Proceedings. ed. / Emma Somogyi; CH Steel; MJ Keppell; P Gerbic; S Housego. Brisbane, Australia: University of Queensland, 2010. p. 595-603.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Virtual tutor support using SMARTHINKING

T2 - ASCILITE 2010: 27th Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education

AU - McDonell, Jennifer

AU - Parkes, Mitchell

AU - Tynan, Belinda

PY - 2010

Y1 - 2010

N2 - The University of New England (UNE) has been using a virtual tutoring service called SMARTHINKING since 2007. UNE explored the use of a "virtual tutor service" to support distance education students in their academic development; to reduce attrition; and to provide academic support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to all students with access to a computer irrespective of geographical location. A cascading selection of units across different disciplinary areas and cohorts of students were targeted for the virtual tutorial support service over 6 semesters to provide rich data. A survey consisting of 20 questions was developed and implemented at the end of each teaching period. Preliminary analysis of data indicates that SMARTHINKING appears to be making a difference to student learning outcomes. However, while uptake tends to be low in all cohorts but where students select to use the service they are positive about its effects.

AB - The University of New England (UNE) has been using a virtual tutoring service called SMARTHINKING since 2007. UNE explored the use of a "virtual tutor service" to support distance education students in their academic development; to reduce attrition; and to provide academic support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to all students with access to a computer irrespective of geographical location. A cascading selection of units across different disciplinary areas and cohorts of students were targeted for the virtual tutorial support service over 6 semesters to provide rich data. A survey consisting of 20 questions was developed and implemented at the end of each teaching period. Preliminary analysis of data indicates that SMARTHINKING appears to be making a difference to student learning outcomes. However, while uptake tends to be low in all cohorts but where students select to use the service they are positive about its effects.

KW - English and Literacy Curriculum and Pedagogy (excl LOTE, ESL and TESOL)

KW - Specialist Studies in Education

KW - Higher Education

UR - http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/sydney10/Ascilite%20conference%20proceedings%202010/McDonell-full.pdf

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 9781742720166

SP - 595

EP - 603

BT - Curriculum, technology & transformation for an unknown future: Ascilite 2010 Conference Proceedings

A2 - Somogyi, Emma

A2 - Steel, CH

A2 - Keppell, MJ

A2 - Gerbic, P

A2 - Housego, S

PB - University of Queensland

CY - Brisbane, Australia

Y2 - 5 December 2010 through 8 December 2010

ER -

Virtual tutor support using SMARTHINKING: Preliminary findings

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