Elizabethtown College has always found a way to help its students succeed by providing resources that will assist them in their academic struggles. The Learning Zone is located at the Baugher Student Center 226-239 and it is where you can find those resources.
The Learning Zone’s mission statement reads, “our mission is to assist students to achieve their academic goals, in an open and safe environment while demonstrating integrity, respect, confidentiality, and professionalism. The Learning Zone fosters a student-centered learning environment and provides academic and writing tutor support.” Many students need help understanding assignments or class courses in general; the Learning Zone gives the opportunity to students who have already taken the class and passed with a grade of B and higher to tutor their peers. A student waiting for their tutor in the Learning Zone said, “I have been coming to tutoring sessions bi-weekly and it has helped me a lot because my tutor has taken the same class as a student, so they explain things in a much simpler way.”
Many other students also feel the same way about how the tutoring sessions help them improve in their classes.
Scheduling a session is done through the Learning Zone app or through a QR code that has been established at the beginning of this semester. Group tutoring sessions are also provided when the student does not wish to have a one-on-one with the tutor. Those sessions are drop-in tutoring— meaning that there is no need for any scheduling; you only have to stop by and ask for assistance with understanding homework, getting an explanation for what is troubling you or taking notes from the questions other peers ask. It is important to note that tutors do not provide answers for homework.
Over 200 peer tutors have signed up to assist with over 100 courses. Tutors are students who have been recommended by their teachers and who want to continue their education of the material. If you are in need of help in a writing assignment, calculus, chemistry, statistics and many more courses, there is a high chance that the Learning Zone could guide you in the right direction to provide you with the right resources to help you. Sessions are not only held in the Learning Zone but also in the High Library, Nicarry or through Zoom depending on the tutees’ preference.
Time management is something that we all struggle with when school is in session. When assignments are building up, work becomes overwhelming and exams are approaching, it is hard to find a good balance. Last year, former Assistant Director of the Learning Zone Tammie Longsderff oversaw assisting students to maintain that work-life balance. Now that she has retired, many feel lost about whom they must contact to help them regain this balance. To reassure them, they can still request this assistance by contacting the Learning Zone.
The staff is always eager to assist students with whatever academic problems they have and find a solution to those problems. The environment as soon as you enter the Learning Zone is calm and very peaceful. The welcoming smiles just make you feel at ease.
The Learning Zone is open Monday – Thursday from 9 am to 9 pm, Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, and Sunday from 3 pm to 9 pm. If you are confident in your skills and would like to apply to be a tutor, you could contact your professors for them to recommend you provide sessions. For more information about the Learning Zone please visit their website https://www.etown.edu/offices/learning/index.aspx or send an email to learningzone@etown.edu
