This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Dec. 3, 2012 - Today’s working parents do not have a lot of time to help their children with their studies. At the same time, they want to ensure that their children are doing well with academics and gaining an adequate understanding of the subjects studied in the classroom.
The competitive world outside requires more than an average level of knowledge to succeed; tutoring can help students attain this above-average level of understanding. Tutoring helps clarify concepts and reinforces learning that takes place in the classroom. Extra help outside of the classroom can build a student’s confidence and consequently lead to an improved educational experience for them.
The Internet has made living much easier these days. From shopping to building social networks, everything can be done. Learning is no exception.
Many students struggle in math and science but are unaware of available resources that are free and easily accessible to them. Using the internet, students can learn on their own. The list below consists of the top eight free tutoring services that I found. Again, these are available for free. (Article continues after the table.)
| Organization | subjects | levels | comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khan Academy | Math: arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, probability, statistics, calculus, differential equations Science: computer science, finance & economics, humanities, standardized test prep | K-12 & college math. High school & college science | Pros: High quality education for anyone, anywhere. Easily accessible YouTube videos. Coaches, parents, teachers can monitor student's progress. Available in multiple languages. Award base for children; constant recognition for student success Cons: No downloadable documents |
| Patrick JMT | Algebra, arithmetic, calculus, differential equations, discrete math, linear algebra, probability and statistics, trigonometry | High school and college | Pros: Hardest math concepts simplified. Explained in way that is easy to understand for anyone. Cons: All video tutorials, no downloadable documents |
| S.O.S. Mathematics | Algebra, calculus, trigonometry, differential equations, complex variables, matrix algebra and mathematical tables | High school, college, adult learners | Pros: Practice exams and question board available to post questions Cons: No video tutorials, all written notes |
| The Physics Classroom | Physics | High school and college | Pros: Summaries and videos, practice exams available for review Cons: None |
| Paul's Online Math Notes | Algebra; calculus I, II and III; linear algebra; differential equations | College | Pros: Video tutorials and downloadable notes. Cheat sheets and tables available. Cons: None |
| Cliffnotes | Math: algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, statistics Sciences: anatomy & physiology, astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, physics | High school and college | Pros: Covers main points in all areas Cons: No video tutorials, basic summaries, not a lot of worked-out problems |
| Algebra Help | Basic algebra | Elementary, middle and high school | Pros: Written lessons, calculators and worksheets Cons: No video tutorials |
| Algebra & Geometry | Geometry and algebra | High school and college | Pros: Math homework solutions, lessons and free tutors. Can ask questions on a question board and receive solutions. Cons: No video tutorials, limited to algebra and geometry |
Online learning is not just about finding study material on the Web. It's a form of self-motivated learning that is delivered to learners at their fingertips. The flexibility of online learning makes it a great option for both children and parents. With online learning, the craziness of running your child to a tutoring session while needing to be somewhere else at the same time is gone; dinner can be cooked while your child is learning in the other room.
Some students use tutoring to help them with homework assignments they are having trouble with or to help them gain a better understanding of what their teacher is trying to teach them. They may do absolutely fine in the classroom, but homework can cause them to struggle. Online learning resources may explain topics in a language that is easier to understand.
As a student at Saint Louis University, I (Kelley Sandhu) have found myself struggling with chemistry and in need of assistance. While SLU has some of the greatest professors in the country, there are times when I find lectures confusing. Khan Academy has allowed me to do better in my chemistry courses, and I swear by Patrick JMT for everything calculus. Both organizations simplified the material for me and put it in human terms; they also provided multiple examples that helped me even more.
I believe that education is the most important thing a person can have; it is the one thing that no one can ever take away from you. At the same time, I think it is unfortunate that a lot of children are unable to access tutoring due to the expense.
There are so many great online tutoring resources out there that I encourage every student to try. So don’t wait for the teacher – see what you can do as a parent to help your child.
Jeanne Cairns Sinquefield, who holds a masters in business administration and a doctorate in demography from The University of Chicago, is a founder of the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation. She has also donated to the Beacon. Kelley Sandhu is a chemistry student at SLU.