Every Thursday students from Worcester’s North and South high schools skip class and make a bee line to the parking lot. While it may sound suspicious, their teachers – and even their principals – encourage it.
Waiting for them in a retrofitted school bus equipped with its own generator, 4G LTE connectivity, and individual workstations with Samsung Tabs are onboard tutors from the College of the Holy Cross. For 90 minutes the students work in pairs on an SAT prep curriculum and college readiness skills.
Designed and run by Verizon Wireless to bring technology to students in underserved communities, Worcester is one of just three pilot cities in Massachusetts to host the program.
The Telegram & Gazette and NECN/Channel 3 recently took a ride on the school bus turned Mobile Learning Lab which resulted in two feature stories.
In the Telegram & Gazette article Vanessa Kranwinkel ‘15, explained on her method of tutoring. “I prefer to tutor in English because that’s my strength. We ask students what their strength is, and then we concentrate on helping them with the opposite,” said Kranwinkel, who is joined by scores of her peers in the Lab.
In a feature video on NECN.com, Verizon Wireless company spokesperson Mike Murphy stated that he is thrilled to see college mentors spend one-on-one time with high school students seeking academic assistance. Of the Lab, he said, “[it creates] a 360 degree comprehensive environment.” Echoing such sentiment, Antonio Willis-Berry ’13, another Holy Cross tutor who travels to South High once a week, said, “I can think of many other things to be doing on Thursday morning, but all I can think about is coming back.”
Read more about the Mobile Learning Lab:
- NECN.com, April 11: Learning on four wheels in Worcester, Mass.
- Telegram & Gazette, April 16: Mobile learning lab pairs high schoolers with college tutors
This ‘Holy Cross in the News’ item by David Cotrone ’13.
