When COVID-19 came to Canada, our educators had to find innovative solutions to new challenges. In March of 2020, the LDS team worked around the clock to transform our in-person instructors into online instructors so we could continue to provide the same RISE (Research-informed Individualized Student Education) instruction that our families had come to expect. After dedicating hours to researching the right online platform for our students and their families, we launched our RISE at Home online learning through TutorCruncher and LessonSpace.
We chose TutorCruncher with the full student experience in mind. Far from the surface are the nitty-gritty details: scheduling, invoicing, timesheets, personal and organization-wide calendars, reporting to parents and to staff, data tracking, apps that sync people, apps that sync apps. We can also all rest easily knowing that the limited data that’s stored in TutorCruncher is on Canadian servers, is in line with Canadian privacy laws, and adheres to the highest data privacy standards (the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)). Choosing the right software was essential. TutorCruncher helps us coordinate the system that surrounds the student. With software to simplify our operations, we can minimize our resources devoted to administration and maximize developing more resources for families.
TutorCruncher is more than a business management system. Integrated into each scheduled lesson is an interactive whiteboard, LessonSpace, where our instructors and students meet. Many features of LessonSpace will feel familiar. We can see and hear each other through video calls, similar to FaceTime or Skype. On the interactive whiteboard, we can collaborate on schoolwork and the individualized lessons designed by our instructors. Using a collaborative whiteboard may be new for many of our students, but don’t worry. This one is easy to get started and easy to use. And after each session, parents can access lesson reports to keep updated on their child’s progress.
The online whiteboard is “1-click connect.” It literally walks into a virtual classroom. Your paper and pencil are waiting. Screensharing on the whiteboard is like watching your instructor work out a problem on paper. It has separate tabs, just like turning to a new chapter in a book. It even has built-in graph paper for everyone working on their math skills. Even though it’s online, it feels familiar.
Together, TutorCruncher and LessonSpace are user friendly, high-quality, secure and interactive—giving our kids, families, and instructors the best experience possible. These systems facilitate the lesson without distracting our students and create a secure learning environment. And they help LDS make learning accessible to more families in our community.
Our mission is to empower the unique strengths of our students. The foundation of this service is employing instructors with diverse skill sets. Behind our capacity to individualize student learning is our ability to connect students with instructors experienced in creating a unique experience for each of their students, as no two students are the same.
We find ourselves in a different world these days. Developing our online community is no longer just about keeping our students safe, it is also about keeping our services accessible. When it is important—or even just more convenient—for a child to learn from home, LDS will be there with RISE at Home.
We will continue to research and investigate new modes of teaching. It is a great time for fostering creative solutions, and we look forward to joining you online via RISE at Home to keep our kids learning!
Do you have questions, comments or feedback on RISE at Home? Want to find out more information about how we can help your child who has a suspected or diagnosed learning disability? Please get in touch at info@ldsociety.ca or 604.873.8139 ext. 102.