Frequently Asked Questions

ALL PARTICIPANTS

• Is tutoring anonymous?
  Upon registration both tutors and tutees are given unique user screen names which do not disclose their identity.  Their email addresses are shielded and the online notebooks are protected so even if someone knows the URL they still can not enter the book.

STUDENTS (Tutees)

• What are my options if a tutor is not available during a session?
  In the event that no tutors are available when you click "Request a Tutor," you may post a question in your workbook using the "Ask a Question" option.  Your question will be sent to the tutor waiting lobby and answered directly in your online notebook by a Study Buddy tutor.

• How can I share a tutoring session with my teacher?
  From time to time you may wish to share one of your tutoring sessions with your teacher for the purpose (as determined by your teacher) of receiving credit, extra credit, or to get additional help.  To accomplish this, you may print any or all of the pages of your workbook and give them directly to your teacher, or your teacher can also enter into your book to review a session at any time.  All material and content in your workbook are always available for your teacher for review.

STUDY BUDDIES (Tutors)

• What is the minimum time commitment for a tutor?
  Study Buddy tutors schedule themselves with the online Scheduler in increments of 30 minutes.  Tutors may schedule as much or as little tutoring up to one month in advance.  There is no minimum time commitment after you schedule your first 30-minute session!

• After I schedule myself to tutor, what do I do if I am no longer available during the time slot I selected?
  Study Buddy offers the ultimate flexibility in a community service project.  Just as easily as you scheduled yourself to tutor, you may cancel a tutoring session as well. 

• How do colleges and universities evaluate community service when admitting new students?
  NSTEP has spoken with several university admissions officers regarding this important issue.  We would like to share the response of an admissions director from a leading competitive university.

"As schools become more and more selective, they are forced to look at a complete view of a student, rather than simply his/her grades and test scores.  Selective institutions don't just look highly upon community service, it's practically expected.

We take a look at how involved someone is in each particular extracurricular event.  While anyone can list 20 organizations that they "belong to," we appreciate students that have a couple of pursuits that they are truly passionate about.  We highly regard leadership and longevity in extracurricular activities.  Someone who has been part [Study Buddy], stayed with it for a few years, and perhaps tutored other mentors ... that's what would make a candidate stand out to us.  Participation in [Study Buddy] would look fantastic, of course, and longevity with the organization would be most beneficial to a student."

TEACHERS

• Does my school qualify to receive Study Buddy tutoring?
  Study Buddy is targeted at serving the economically challenged student.  If your school or after school program supports students who attend a Title I School or more than 40% of its students qualify for the Federal Free or Reduced Lunch Program then you are eligible for the Study Buddy program. You may also qualify if you are supported by a grant. Ask your program coordinator.

• I contacted you regarding participation but haven't heard anything yet.  What do I do?
  Perhaps you didn't receive the email that was sent.  You might want to check your junk/spam inbox for messages from the Study Buddy mailbox.  If there are no messages you can reach us at studybuddy@nstep-online.org.

• I am a teacher who has registered without a code to receive tutoring for my students.  Now what do I do?
  Once we confirm your registration, a code will be automatically sent to you.  Sometimes this email is sent to your spam or junk email folder.  You will then enter this code on the registration page and follow the steps to register your students.  Welcome to Study Buddy!

• How can I monitor my students' tutoring sessions?
  Whether you are the teacher of a student receiving tutoring or you are the teacher sponsor of one of our Study Buddy tutors, you can enter one of your students' workbooks at any time, either during a tutoring session or asynchronously.
  
  
  
• How do your worksheets align with the Standards of Learning for my state?
  The general worksheets conform to the Standards of Learning of many states, however there are differences among states.  To ensure alignment with the SOLs of your state, we encourage you to upload into your students' online notebooks homework assignments which conform to your own state's SOL.
  

November   19 ,  2008