Barrick is one of many teachers who have already started. With a computer image projected onto the board, Barrick navigated easily between windows by simply pressing on the large, touch-sensitive surface. He even drew on the screen with his hand, easily erasing and changing text. Nearby, in room 32, teachers and representatives from eSylvan demonstrated the on-line tutoring program scheduled to begin in September. The program tutors reading for grades four through nine and math for grades three through eight.
Live instruction is offered by certified teachers who are on-line at specific times.
The student then logs on to a computer at that time and sees a picture of the teacher in the upper left-hand corner of the screen. Some 80 students will participate in next fall's pilot launch of the eSylvan program, Ms. Long said. The district will look for middle school students who need help with math and elementary students who need assistance with reading. Parents will have private passwords to enable them to log on and receive personalized updates of their children's progress. It's a lot of nice gadgets.