Remote Tutoring and Mentoring RTM
is a simple way for professionals to volunteer their time without having to
travel.
The web-based,
interactive whiteboard and audio connection, allows students and mentors the
flexibility of connecting from two separate locations. Using a digital writing tablet and stylus,
the pairs can draw graphs, write math problems, and generally explore the world
from a scientific and mathematical perspective.
How does it work? Look at this 2 minute video
of real
RTM sessions to give you an idea of the mentor-student interaction and
the way
our mentors explore math and science:
Curious about the program? How much time does it take? What do I need to do to become a mentor?
Where do the students come from? Click here to read our Prospective Mentor FAQ
Mentor Spotlight
Name: Helen Shaughnessy
Nickname : None (or at least none that would be publishable)
Education
Background:
Current
company, job, and description : As a
product marketing manager I am responsible for understanding our market and
communicating the value of the product to potential customers.
Favorite
math teacher: th grade Analysis/Pre-Calc – He had a sense of
humor and used to throw chalk at us.
Favorite
memory from math/science growing up:
Favorite
metaphor or saying:
Prior
experience working with youth:
Why
you want to be a mentor:
In the middle school years there is so
much pressure that often subjects that are perceived to be hard or uncool get
dropped and put aside, especially by the girls. Some research was recently
announced where the mere suggestion that women don’t perform as well as men on
a particular test was enough to cause strong math women to perform poorly.
(See “Why So Few? ,
supported by the National
Science Foundation , or the article http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/science/22women.html ) I want to be an example, to both genders,
that women can excel at math. Then, when the girls hear those comments, they
won’t believe them and the boys won’t make those comments themselves, because
they have experienced a counter example.
Why
you like math and science: I like Math and Science because
they lead to so many cool things. Whether it’s fun gadgets like an iPhone or
amazing technology like movie computer graphics (CG) or wonders of nature
like double rainbows, it all boils down to math and science.