The Whitlam Library in Cabramatta, south western Sydney, has introduced Australia’s first online homework help service. The service, called Live Homework Help, was launched by former Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, and Fairfield City Council in April. It allows students from years 4 to 12 to receive online science and maths tutoring between 4 and 7pm Monday to Thursday.
“Students will no longer have to wait until the next day, or worry overnight, about not completing a homework problem,” Fairfield Mayor, Councillor Nick Lalich, said. “If they get stuck, or don’t understand a problem, they can visit the Whitlam Library after school and use a private chat room with a qualified tutor.”
All online tutors receive training in encouraging students to work through questions and solve problems themselves. Fairfield City Acting Library Services Manager, Linda Dunn, said tutors never give answers to the students, but show them how to tackle questions correctly.
“The strength of the service is that it can support students after school, when their parents are unable to help due to other commitments,” Linda Dunn said. “In Fairfield City, where more than half our community speaks a language other than English at home, Live Homework Help is a vital educational tool.”
The service also features a virtual blackboard, which allows online drawing of diagrams and graphs. Each homework help session lasts around 20 minutes.
Council expects that that Live Homework Help will be adopted throughout Australia, as has happened in the USA.
For more information contact Linda Dunn on (02) 9725 0379 or email linda.dunn@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au
