educator Corner
By Dr. Kimberly LaPrade, Dean of the College of Education at Grand Canyon University
Resources to help bolster education are plentiful
P
encils are being sharpened and notebooks stashed
in backpacks as the second half of the school year
gets under way in Arizona. It’s this time of year when
excitement among students starting a brand-new course load
is at a fever pitch.
But beyond excitement, students may find themselves
filled with anxiety as they journey into new areas of study
that are unfamiliar and uncomfortable territory.
As a teacher, there’s nothing worse than knowing a student
is too nervous to tell you he doesn’t understand a concept or
needs extra help. Whether stymied by algebraic equations or
crafting an essay, it’s important to consider the wide range of
resources to tackle the most challenging topics – from math
and science to English and social studies.
action. If a student seeks greater clarification, the teacher may be
able to explain the lesson using a different approach.
Tutoring programs: Schools offer a variety of resources
when it comes to tutoring programs. From individual to
group sessions, most schools offer teaching and learning
sessions before or after school, or during lunch. Students
could also benefit from additional resources available to
their schools. For instance, Grand Canyon University
faculty members offer free math tutoring to their students
through a volunteer Pi It Forward program. In addition,
the university hosts a Learning Lounge for Alhambra High
School that pairs outstanding GCU students with AHS
students for free after-school tutoring and study sessions.
Students have access to tutoring offices, a computer lounge,
and a comfortable team-learning environment where
students can receive assistance from their tutors, borrow
iPads and complete assignments.
Online resources: The prevalence of the Internet as an
education delivery vehicle is undeniable, offering a variety of
Among them:
Teachers: Often what should be the first stop for struggling
students becomes a last resort. Teachers spend a lifetime
learning how to deliver complex lessons to a variety of learners.
Methods that explain a concept to a visual learner don’t
necessarily translate to someone who needs to see the theory in
videos and learning modules.
Dr. Ted Coe, the assistant
dean of GCU’s College of Education, suggests several useful
sites that can explain everything from introductory math
to advanced courses. If students are looking for the Google
of mathematics, wolframalpha.com is a great resource. It
allows users the chance to enter math problems in regular
language and get precise, detailed answers. The website
allows three free step-by-step solutions per day. Beyond
that, it simply provides final solutions. For specific lessons,
CK12.org may be a better option. With a vast library of
resources and a handy search feature, students can track
progress on individual skills through the Kahn Academy’s
(khanacademy.org) knowledge map after creating a free
account. For Arizona College and Career Readiness
Standards, illustrativemathematics.org is a go-to resource.
This site lays out challenging practice problems that will
stretch a student’s reasoning and modeling skills.
Bottom line: No problem is too big to explain, and help is
available at every turn, for every type of learner.
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January 2014 / 7