SMARTHINKING | The leader in on-demand student support

Florida Gateway College is a small school, drawing students from 5 counties in rural north Florida. As part of its mission to “maintain its search for excellence,” FGC wanted to supplement the limited availability of on-campus tutoring. In addition, FGC recognized the need to offer non-traditional students taking distance learning classes or on-line courses the same level of academic support offered to on-campus students. The Florida College System/Smarthinking partnership allowed FGC to purchase Smarthinking’s online tutoring at a reduced cost and address its key concerns. FGC began offering Smarthinking to its students in 2007. All students were given access to Smarthinking in all courses. 

A key component to FGC’s implementation of Smarthinking was that certain instructors assigned Smarthinking as part of their course. Writing instructors required students to submit their papers to Smarthinking’s Online Writing Lab before they turn in a final product. FGC’s nursing program used Smarthinking tutors to help remediate students if they did not score well on specific tests. Nursing students were required to schedule one hour of time with a Smarthinking tutor in the subject area in which they were deficient. To ascertain the impact of Smarthinking on its students, FCG conducted a series of surveys with instructors and students in 2011. In a survey of faculty, almost half of the instructors said they used Smarthinking regularly with their students. One writing instructor commented, “When students receive Smarthinking feedback, the final draft is usually well written, complete, and it follows along with the lessons that I am teaching in my class.” Of the students who use Smarthinking, 94% were satisfied with their overall tutoring experience. 

"Smarthinking has been a really positive investment by Florida Gateway College for its students. Our online students can now access live tutors without having to drive miles to get tutoring help. Now students expect this help without having faculty and staff convince them that they need it."
Charles Carroll, VP, Instruction & Student Services