Tutoring in the Age of COVID-19: A Case Study of the Study Buddy Program
Canada | 2023
In Canada, education is one of the strongest drivers of social mobility; yet persistent gaps remain in academic achievement, contributing to unequal outcomes in employment, health and belonging for members of equity-deserving groups. Research on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has shown a need for creating unique approaches for supporting the academic achievement of students from equity-deserving families. During the pandemic the systemic barriers embedded in the education system were compounded by a lack of tailored supports and resources for students. Parents supporting their children鈥檚 academic needs in a virtual setting faced the hardship of accessing educational support while fulfilling their own daily obligations. The Study Buddy program was launched in May 2020 as a solution to these challenges.
As this report shows, Study Buddy has been of tremendous benefit for students and parents from equity-deserving groups, as well as for tutors who provided services. The program resulted in families feeling more comfortable and confident with online learning and school work. Students and tutors alike developed problem-solving, decision-making, interpersonal and technology skills, all of which play a role in academic success. Apart from helping with skills development, students and families noted the program鈥檚 ability to make them feel less anxious, provide enjoyable interaction and support, and inspire hope for the future. Teacher candidates reported that the program helped them to develop critical skills, including teaching and learning, interpersonal, and problem-solving and decision making.
As a model, the Study Buddy program successfully leveraged the engagement of parents and multi-stakeholder partnership, to ensure successful implementation of education programs within equity-deserving communities. The analysis from the data gathered over the last two years of the Study Buddy program suggests a positive impact not just on students from equity-deserving families, but also on their parents and tutors.
Canada | 2023
Au Canada, l鈥櫭ヾucation est un des principaux moteurs de la mobilit茅 sociale鈥�; pourtant, les r茅sultats scolaires affichent des 茅carts persistants, ce qui contribue 脿 des r茅sultats in茅gaux en mati猫re d鈥檈mploi, de sant茅 et d鈥檃ppartenance pour les membres des groupes m茅ritant l鈥櫭﹒uit茅. La recherche sur les effets de la pand茅mie de COVID-19 a montr茅 la n茅cessit茅 de cr茅er des approches uniques pour soutenir la r茅ussite scolaire des 茅l猫ves issus de familles m茅ritant l鈥櫭﹒uit茅. Pendant la pand茅mie, les obstacles syst茅miques pr茅sents dans le syst猫me d鈥櫭ヾucation ont 茅t茅 aggrav茅s par un manque de ressources et de soutien adapt茅s pour les 茅l猫ves. Les parents qui r茅pondaient aux besoins scolaires de leurs enfants dans un cadre virtuel ont d没 faire face 脿 la difficult茅 d鈥檕btenir du soutien en mati猫re d鈥櫭ヾucation tout en s鈥檃cquittant de leurs propres obligations quotidiennes. Le programme Study Buddy a 茅t茅 lanc茅 en mai 2020 en r茅ponse 脿 ces d茅fis.
Comme le montre ce rapport, Study Buddy a 茅t茅 extr锚mement b茅n茅fique pour les 茅l猫ves et les parents de groupes m茅ritant l鈥櫭﹒uit茅, ainsi que pour les tuteurs qui ont fourni des services. Gr芒ce 脿 ce programme, les familles se sentent plus 脿 l鈥檃ise et plus confiantes en ce qui concerne l鈥檃pprentissage en ligne et le travail scolaire. Les 茅l猫ves et les tuteurs ont d茅velopp茅 des comp茅tences en r茅solution de probl猫mes, en prise de d茅cision, en relations interpersonnelles et en technologie, comp茅tences qui jouent toutes un r么le dans la r茅ussite scolaire. En plus d鈥檃ider au d茅veloppement des comp茅tences, les 茅l猫ves et les familles ont soulign茅 la capacit茅 du programme 脿 r茅duire leur anxi茅t茅, 脿 leur offrir une interaction et un soutien agr茅ables et 脿 leur inspirer de l鈥檈spoir pour l鈥檃venir. Les 茅tudiantes et 茅tudiants en enseignement ont indiqu茅 que le programme les avait aid茅s 脿 acqu茅rir des comp茅tences essentielles, notamment en mati猫re d鈥檈nseignement et d鈥檃pprentissage, de relations interpersonnelles, de r茅solution de probl猫mes et de prise de d茅cision.
脌 titre de mod猫le, le programme Study Buddy a r茅ussi 脿 tirer parti de l鈥檈ngagement des parents et d鈥檜n partenariat multipartite pour assurer la r茅ussite de la mise en 艙uvre des programmes d鈥櫭ヾucation au sein des communaut茅s m茅ritant l鈥櫭﹒uit茅. L鈥檃nalyse des donn茅es recueillies au cours des deux derni猫res ann茅es du programme Study Buddy sugg猫re un impact positif non seulement pour les 茅l猫ves issus de familles m茅ritant l鈥櫭﹒uit茅, mais aussi pour leurs parents et tuteurs.
