Grand Rapids Community College has renamed its tutoring center in an effort to provide more insight to the student population about the services offered. Administrators are using the terms Providing, Learning, Atmosphere, through Coaching and Encouragement (P.L.A.C.E) to define the purpose of the program, and the obligations it has to helping the student body.
New initiatives have been developed within the program to provide assistance in most subject areas taught on campus. The most recent additions include tutoring for culinary and music students.
Also more detailed data will be provided within the next year to show the effects participating in a tutorial lab and appointment based tutoring has on a student’s success rate.
Overall The P.L.A.C.E is a new and improved free drop-in tutoring center that allows students to connect with staff and peers and get help with developmental courses that they can apply to their everyday life.
Providing
Tutors in The P.L.A.C.E dedicate their time to provide each student with what they need to know.
“Our theme is to give them a good base for college,” said Paddie Kolenko, Professional Tutor. “We help teach them a sense of community. We help them learn things like time management, study skills, even managing stress. We do a lot of mentoring in here. We might help you for an hour or we may help you for five minutes it just depends on what you need.”
Learning
Tutors in The P.L.A.C.E often find themselves acquiring new skills while helping a student.
“We work with students of all learning types. Kinesthetic, visual, auditory, and tactile. (For example) if they don’t know what I am talking about I might draw a picture,” Kolenko said. “We adjust and we don’t even realize it, but you know there are numerous ways to teach people.” .
Atmosphere
The P.L.A.C.E is located in the Learning Center, Room 234.
“(There’s) just a little more individualized service here, a little more relaxed atmosphere, not typically as many students asking for assistance,” said Don Vanoeveren, Associate director of academic support tutoring services. “We do have coffee and water available (to) give them a more intimate, comfortable, and relaxed setting,
“(It’s quite) comfortable, (I) feel at ease coming here,” stated Julia Badger, Elementary Education major.
Coaching
Tutors at The P.L.A.C.E strive to bring out the best in their students using different encouraging methods of learning.
“I like to see what they know and if they’re just stuck then I (may) give them little hints at a time,” Kolenko said. “I might give them a hint to see where that brings their memory or their knowledge I just find out what they know and kind of just slowly build on it and pretty soon they’re answering their own questions.”
Encouragement
Tutors and peers attending The P.L.A.C.E. often share encouraging words to help boost each other up.
“When they pass their test and they come in here and they’re all happy, just beaming, you know?” Kolenko said. “And we get to tell them their geniuses, making them feel good.”
For more information about the different subjects, and tutoring opportunities offered at The P.L.A.C.E please click this here.
