A pilot tutoring program designed to provide support to high school students in literacy and numeracy is making a positive difference, thanks to the dedication of Curtin University\u2019s LinkUp committee.<\/p>\n
The collaborative effort between Curtin\u2019s Future Student Services and School of Education, recently completed at Southern River and Armadale high schools, provides mentoring help by volunteer Bachelor of Education students at low socioeconomic schools (SES).<\/p>\n
The LinkUp Tutoring Program was set up in response to the 2009 Bradley Review\u2019s recommendation for universities to increase undergraduate enrolments of traditionally underrepresented individuals and groups.<\/p>\n
Acting Director for Future Students and Marketing, Tracy Armson, said the potential of a tutoring program to raise pre-tertiary performance and strengthen self-efficacy within schools had been discussed as part of the University Student Equity Strategy for 2010-13.<\/p>\n
\u201cFocus groups discussed included Indigenous peoples, regional and remote areas, young people with low NAPLAN results, mature age prospective students, as well as those in our community who are financially disadvantaged,\u201d Ms Armson said.<\/p>\n
Tutoring Program Coordinator and ex-classroom teacher, Saul Karnovsky, said his experience in teaching at SES communities had helped him to identify key requirements for the program.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne-to-one help can provide a struggling student with much needed assistance, as often a teacher in a classroom of 25 or 30 students will find it difficult to spend enough time aiding those who have learning difficulties or lack core skills to process information,\u201d Mr Karnovsky said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe added benefit is that our pre-service teachers can extend their learning as well as build their portfolio of teaching experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Karnovsky said tutoring support provided schools with a flexible pool of committed pre-service educators to share the burden placed on classroom teachers.<\/p>\n
\u201cPublic schools are under enormous financial pressure, with very tight budgets to deliver curriculum and essential support services to students,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a classroom of up to 32 students, often education assistants are only provided to those most in need, such as students with physical impairments, and funding for support is dependent on the fluctuating numbers of enrolments.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe LinkUp Tutoring Program is about helping to identify young people experiencing social, economic and other kinds of hardships and finding multiple solutions to increase their chances of success in life and formal learning situations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Over the coming weeks, Curtin\u2019s LinkUp committee will collate evaluations by school principles, classroom teachers, students and candidates to inform the way in which the program can be implemented on a wider scale in 2011.<\/p>\n
Contacts:<\/p>\n
Saul Karnovsky Flavia Zeps Andrea Barnard, Public Relations, Curtin University
\nTutoring Program\u00a0Coordinator, Curtin University
\nEmail: saul.karnovsky@curtin.edu.au<\/a> \u00a0<\/p>\n
\nCurtin Link Up Co-coordinator, Curtin University
\nEmail: f.zeps@curtin.edu.au<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nTel: 08 9266 4241, Mobile: 0401 103 755, Email: andrea.barnard@curtin.edu.au<\/a> \u00a0<\/p>\n