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Online Tutoring

The John Corcoran Foundation has developed an online tutoring program which makes it possible for students to receive extremely effective research-based instruction in reading in the privacy of their home.

The program is delivered using very high quality literacy software which provides interactive exercises designed to help students improve decoding, comprehension, and fluency skills.

A personal tutor interacts with each student using a web-conferencing program which  makes it possible for tutor and student to see each other’s computer screen, and talk on the telephone.  The tutor administers diagnostic assessments which determine whether auditory processing and/or visual processing skills need to be remedied.  The tutor works with the student once or twice weekly as needed to provide guidance and monitoring of progress.  The tutor is able to watch the student work through lessons, review student reports, provide assessments, provide interactive lessons (reading and spelling), and answer any questions the student or parent might have concerning the program.

The value of computer programs is their ability to provide high-quality research based instruction with repetition and constant motivating affirmation for students. Software is especially appropriate for students who are embarrassed to be tutored in a group, or need more drill and practice than the average student.  Software is uniquely suited to respond individually to a student’s slightest error, and customize exercise appropriately.

The tutor can consult with parents as well as with students to ensure that the software program is working appropriately. Most importantly, however, is the personal bond that can be established between the tutor and student which affects motivation.

The software used and researched is The Reading Coach. To learn more, visit www.mindplay.com.

The idea of developing an online tutorial program evolved as the John Corcoran Foundation worked for three years with the COVA (Colorado Virtual Academy), an online charter school. The Foundation provided remedial reading services by sending high quality remedial reading software to students. COVA students were home schooled and worked with curriculum delivered online by the COVA parent publishing company, so they were used to working with computer assisted instruction.

In order to provide conscientious progress monitoring, the Foundation teachers contacted parents weekly, and reviewed student reports, accessible using web conferencing programs. In that way, it was possible to discuss how to deal with ongoing instruction from a knowledgeable reading teacher. The program worked very well. Students made very good gains, as measured by Foundation assessments and by Colorado standardized tests. Another Colorado online charter school, VILAS, has recently contracted with the Foundation to provide consultation to make it possible for them to replicate the model as closely as possible.

Partnering with other tutorial programs might be possible, as the instructional design used by the Foundation is unique and more effective than most of the reading programs offered by other online programs.