As a parent, perhaps you have come to that point where you realize that your child needs extra help with one or more classroom subjects. Perhaps one area that needs attention is mathematics. As you explore ways to best help your child, you begin to focus on the distinction between information and knowledge. Recently, a New York Times article1 addressed this distinction and concluded that our schools need to change from merely “downloading content into students’ minds” and focus more on knowledge, which is a more sophisticated process of pattern and mental formation. But until our schools adapt, children are likely to be exposed to too much “content” and too little “mental formation.”
As you do your homework, you come to realize that your child’s poor performance in math is a lack of knowledge and not a lack of information. You learn that among the various “solutions” at your disposal, two avenues for improvement seem to predominate your research: Technology and tutoring. Sound familiar? Please read on.
Technology seems more modern while tutoring seems old fashioned. Technology may seem like a natural extension of your child’s inclination to do all things digital. Technology is there when you want it, on demand, no matter the hour. Technology may seem to offer a “one-size-fits-all” solution, and it can appear to be an inexpensive option. But remember this, relying on a technology solution also requires that your child try to remain undistracted from the constant barrage of text messages, and e-mails tunneling their way over the very device that you want to be instructional! It may be too much of a distraction for most students. As the New York Times article concludes, conventional wisdom too often “ignores the distinction between information processing, which computers are good at, and knowledge, which they are not.”
Tutoring, on the other hand, is dependent on people and their schedules have to be synchronized. Tutoring is more likely to be individualized to address the specific needs of each student and therefore be more likely to help a student attain real knowledge. Yet, many tutors self declare their competency, and then advertise their availability on various internet sites, leaving you to wonder if it is wise to invite an unproven stranger into your home.
Hometown Learning Centers was founded on the belief that what you want for your child is the development of his or her base of knowledge. Information can be crammed into reference manuals and compiled ad nauseum into various internet sites. But it takes knowledge to be able to frame a question and then to solve it. We also believe that tutoring can be made safe and convenient. And we believe that we can qualify our tutors so that you can be assured that the tutor not only knows the subject matter, but is also an effective instructor.
If this brief message resonates with you, give us a call. We are here to help your child gain real knowledge.
Jim Eberle
Founder, Hometown Learning Centers
1 http://nyti.ms/1VWbuE5
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