Learn To Be is a U.S. non-profit organization that recruits volunteers to offer free online tutoring to students in underserved communities.
 | |
| Founded | January 2008 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Stephen Chen and Neeraj Kapoor |
| Type | Public charity |
| Focus | Eliminate Educational Inequity |
| Location | |
| Method | Free online tutoring |
Key people | Neeraj Kapoor, CEO Stephen Chen, President |
| Website | www.learntobe.org |
In February 2011, the Learn To Be Foundation was featured on Philanthroper.com,[1] a website that features a different non-profit every day to encourage philanthropy as a daily habit. By this time, Learn To Be has already offered 4000 hours of tutoring to more than 5000 students.
Service
editLearn To Be provides tutoring through a customized online classroom environment that has been open-sourced by BigBlueButton. Similar services include Tutor.com, which provides free tutoring to military families, and TutorChatLive,[2] a non-profit founded by students from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
The tutors apply via an online form on the Foundation's website, and after a certification process and background check, are allowed to enter the community to pick up sessions. The Foundation and its University Chapters approach low-performing schools and schools in generally underserved areas, where students can gain access to the Learn To Be tutoring platform at a school computer lab or on a library computer. Students can request sessions in math, sciences, and language arts between 9am and 9pm, Pacific Time.[3] The service is completely free and is supported by the Foundation which operates solely on donations from the community.
In addition, online tutoring providers like Learn To Be assist homeschooled children with their academics. For example, Learn To Be is featured as a free homeschooling resource by Galileo Education, an academic support service run by Christa Novelli.[4]
Chapters
editUCLA
editStudents at the University of California, Los Angeles established the first University Chapter of Learn To Be. They are currently officially registered with the University.[5][6]
UT Austin
editLearn To Be is an officially registered student organization at The University of Texas at Austin.[7] The organization is advised by Dr. Prabhudev Konana,[8] a professor in the Department of Information, Risk, and Operations Management at the McCombs School of Business.[9]
UT Dallas
editDerek Chui, 19, a Collegium V Honors student, established a chapter at UT Dallas.[10] The chapter works with the McKinney Independent School District and Plano Independent School District, tutoring on-site and online.
Syracuse University
editThe Learn To Be Chapter at Syracuse University works with Say Yes to Education in the local Syracuse school districts to provide free tutoring to underprivileged students.[11] Michael Hu, the Renee Crown Honors student at Syracuse who founded the chapter, was featured in the Honors Messenger Newsletter.[12]
Cornell University
editAs of March 2011, students Stephen Lane and Odis Ponce are starting a chapter at Cornell University. They are participating in Online Leadership Exchanges with leaders from the Foundation and other University Chapters.[13]
University of California, San Diego (UCSD)
editSeung Jin Lee and a group of undergraduate students officially registered and established a chapter at UCSD in the fall of 2011. The organization currently volunteers on-site for underprivileged children.
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
editWolverine Tutors, an existing organization dedicated to providing online tutoring and mentoring for at-risk high school students, registered as a chapter of Learn to Be in 2012.
Partnerships
editLocal food establishments in Anaheim sponsored Learn To Be's first benefit dinner in August 2009.[14] Hulu.com also broadcasts a commercial for Learn To Be.[15]
Fundraising
editIn December 2009, supporters tried to garner votes for Learn To Be in the Chase Community Giving program.[16] In June 2010, The Orange County Register reported that nearly 100 people participated in a walk/run event that raised more than $3,000 for the Learn To Be Foundation.[17][18]
References
edit- ^ My School District Is the Internet Archived 2011-07-15 at archive.today, Philanthroper, February 11, 2011, accessed March 7, 2011.
- ^ The Team Archived 2010-11-25 at the Wayback Machine, TutorChatLive.org, accessed March 7, 2011.
- ^ Frequently Asked Questions Archived 2011-08-11 at the Wayback Machine, Learn To Be, accessed March 7, 2011.
- ^ Free homeschooling resources Archived 2012-08-01 at archive.today, Galileo Education, accessed March 7, 2011.
- ^ Student Groups - Learn To Be Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine, accessed March 7, 2011.
- ^ UCLA Student Organizations - Learn To Be Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine, accessed March 7, 2011.
- ^ Student Organization Database - Learn To Be[permanent dead link], Student Activities and Leadership Development, November 2010, accessed March 7, 2011.
- ^ University Chapter Steering Committee Archived 2011-07-23 at the Wayback Machine, Learn To Be at Texas, accessed March 7, 2011.
- ^ Faculty Profile - Prabhudev Konana, UT Austin Office of Public Affairs, accessed March 7, 2011.
- ^ Tutor of the Month - January 2011 Archived 2011-03-24 at the Wayback Machine, accessed March 7, 2011.
- ^ Inside SU - Interested in volunteer tutoring at your convenience? Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine, SU News Service, February 22, 2011, accessed March 7, 2011.
- ^ Civic Engagement Opportunity: The Learn To Be Foundation Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine, The Messenger, January 19, 2011, accessed March 7, 2011.
- ^ Videoconference recording - Online Leadership Exchange[permanent dead link], Elluminate Live!, March 5, 2011, accessed March 7, 2011.
- ^ Learn To Be Foundation holds first benefit dinner Archived 2011-07-23 at the Wayback Machine, The Orange County Register, August 17, 2009, accessed March 7, 2011
- ^ Learntobe.org commercial for Hulu.com, YouTube, accessed March 7, 2011.
- ^ Support The Learn To Be Foundation in the Chase Giving Program, My Life by Jomo, December 11, 2009, accessed March 7, 2011.
- ^ Learn To Be Foundation holds 5K Run/Walk Archived 2011-07-23 at the Wayback Machine, The Orange County Register, June 14, 2010, accessed March 7, 2011.
- ^ Runners take off Sunday at the Learn To Be Foundation's 5K Run/Walk, which took place at Yorba Regional Park, The Orange County Register, June 14, 2010, accessed March 7, 2011.