Langley students will soon be sharing their mathematical expertise with students who need help in math but cannot afford it.
The Math Honor Society is requiring all its members to participate in the Study Buddy program, in which the MHS students will be tutoring math online to underprivileged students from all around the country. Any Langley students outside of MHS are also encouraged to participate, as long as they are enrolled in Pre-calculus or higher and have at least a B+ average in all their math courses.
“I found out that other schools were doing it, so I thought we should do it too,” said MHS President Debbie Pan.
“The tutors will be able to relate to other students outside of Langley,” said Ms. Pam Douglas, sponsor of the MHS.
Students who want to become tutors have to watch a video tutorial on how the online software works and take an online exam to be qualified. Tutors then meet with tutees on the Study Buddy program website and answer any questions the tutees have via virtual whiteboards. Subjects offered inclucde Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Pre-calculus, Trigonometry, Calculus AB/BC, or Statistics.
The Study Buddy program is managed by the National Science and Technology Education Partnership, a non-profit organization that has been providing online peer-to-peer math education since 2008. The program is still in test mode at Langley, but will start officially in second quarter.
“I think it is a good opportunity for us because we get to contribute to the society by teaching for free, get community service hours ourselves, and strengthen our knowledge on math by teaching it,” said MHS member Michelle Chu.