WSU Students Cyber Tutor During Spring Break

PULLMAN, Wash. – Doctoral student Mari Stair and three other Washington State University College of Education graduate students will spend their spring break cyber tutoring nine Coeur D’Alene Tribe high school students.

The cyber tutoring project started at the beginning of the spring semester and the WSU students are trying to keep the momentum by continuing their work during the WSU break. “I am very proud of the students. There is so much dedication and service to others that university students do,” said Gerald Maring, WSU professor and co-director of the Engineering Education Research Center.

“We have tremendous support from the Coeur D’Alene Tribe parents and staff. This is also a wonderful cyber practice for our Cougars, allowing them to work with students and to try out recommended tutoring and learning strategies,” he said.

The cyber tutoring project is a pilot program where WSU education students tutor Coeur D’Alene Tribal students at the tribe’s Internet Technology Center. The tutoring is implemented from the WSU campus via live video teleconference with support from Washington Higher Education Telecommunications System, the university’s interactive television system.

The program will measure the high school students’ improvements in the areas they are being tutored. ”We are looking forward to this information in a few weeks. We hope this innovative project is a win/win situation for pre-service teachers in their preparation to become effective teachers and for the tutees who learn more about the traditional areas of the high school curriculum,” Maring said.

The new project has the potential to grow into a larger program in future semesters. “Other professors have asked if their students could participate, so we look forward to expanding. However, we take all steps with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe members and staff advising us along with the recommendations of professors at WSU who are experts in Native American education issues and techniques.”

Laurie Maupin, a student at the College of Education and one of the project’s cyber tutors, said the areas the students want to be tutored in are math and science. She said the program is perfect for tutoring kids in remote areas.

“It is a wonderful experience to be part of the program and to connect with the students through computers. I don’t think it could have been done any other way,” she said. “Once the students and the tutors were comfortable with the system, it worked great. We can see and talk to each other and use boards to write math problems. Although it is not the same as being with the student in the same room, it’s really a face-to-face experience.”

Drea Robideau, another of the cyber tutors, knows first hand how successful technology can be in bringing education to the reservations. “I was a student in the Ok’sale program for two years. Ok’sale is the word for teacher, and I received broadcasted classes to get my teaching degree without having to leave the reservation.

“I had to move to Pullman to finish my education because the program does not exist anymore. When I heard about the cyber tutoring pilot project I wanted to be part of it, because I know how much it can help the students. I know this program brings technology to a community that needs it and it’s ready for it.”

Media Advisory:
The WSU cyber tutors who are teaching during spring break can be reached for further information:
Laurie Maupin: (509) 552-9953
Drea Robideau: (503) 553-9802
Steve Naranjo: (312) 451-1284

From left to right: Drea Robideau, Mari Stair, Laurie Maupin and Steve Naranjo. The four cyber tutors will continue their work during WSU Spring Break.

Drea Robideau stands by the video conference camera and screens, while her co-workers sit at the teaching table.