As
we near a full year of living in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and
continue to grapple with its effect on our way of life, one thing is crystal
clear: we’re doing more and more of our living, working, and learning
virtually. With that in mind, WPL has tapped into an invaluable resource to
offer to its patrons during this time: Brainfuse HelpNow eLearning. With your WPL library card in hand, people
of all ages can head on over to www.mywpl.org/?q=article/helpnow-tutoring to get online help from expert tutors 7 days a week: 2 p.m. -
11 p.m. including:
- Academic assistance in core subjects (math, reading, writing,
science, social studies)
- 24/7 Writing Lab & essay feedback/assistance
- Academic content and practice tests for skills-building
(including SAT preparation)
- French & Spanish language tutoring
- Private virtual study rooms for you and your friends
Allow me to take you on a tour of the different features available to you! Here are the
services that fall under the umbrella of Expert
Help:
LIVE TUTORING:
Simply
select your grade (kindergarten through college; FAFSA assistance is offered as
well!) and subject, submit your request, and you will enter a live chat with a
tutor! Patrons can request a session in Spanish/español if desired. As a
majority of schooling is currently being conducted online, this can help fill
the void created by the lack of face-to-face learning so many of us have been
accustomed to.
This
is presented in what you could call a “virtual classroom” setup, complete with
a shared whiteboard that allows for you to show your work and collaborate with
the tutor.
Say
you’re working through a difficult algebra equation. Using the whiteboard, your
tutor can see the steps you’re taking to solve the problem, and they can offer
tips and advice as they guide you through the process as you reach the answer
together. Speaking from experience, this could have spared me a few headaches
when I was in school! Very cool indeed.
WRITING LAB:
This allows for patrons to submit a
piece of writing to be reviewed by a resident writing expert. For those who may struggle with grammar,
structure, word choices, etc., this is a great way to have a professional set
of eyes take a look at your work and offer analysis and/or advice. With more
and more people being isolated due to public health restrictions, it can be
difficult to get feedback on something you’re working on -- the Writing Lab
allows you to get an impartial critique from a pro, and it’s easy and free!
SKILL SURFER/LEARNING LIBRARY:
No
matter where you are in your life, Brainfuse
HelpNow eLearning has you covered. Using the Learning Library, patrons in 3rd grade and up have
access to all manner of lessons, reviews, videos, tests, and various exercises.
Are
you a 3rd grader in need of reading practice tests? They’re here! A
9th grader looking for a calculus review? They’ve got it. A junior
who want to master the SATs? There are test preps here for that. A
self-conscious 60-something luddite looking to be demystified by Microsoft Office apps and computer
programming? There’s a whole host of detailed, step-by-step (with screenshots!)
walkthroughs designed to get you navigating these programs like a seasoned pro.
For
adults who need a refresher on math skills, online research skills, prep guides
for earning your GED or becoming a U.S. citizen, or in need of handy resources
for parents, that’s all here as well. This could be a lifesaver for you!
SEND QUESTION:
Brainfuse's
Send Question feature allows you to
ask a question any time of day and get a written response from one of their
tutors within approximately one business day. Feel free to attach supporting
documentation (pictures, scans, drawings, etc.) to better describe your
question. Your response will appear in your account’s Message Center.
LANGUAGE LAB:
Here, patrons can schedule an
appointment with a language tutor
for help with your foreign language class (only French or Spanish are available
as I write this).
The Vocabulary Builder
offers games, quizzes, flashcards, and spoken pronunciations to help you learn
a new language. Languages to choose from include: Spanish, French, Russian,
Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Portuguese, Italian, German, Dutch, and Catalan. To
me, this seems like a great way of exploring a new language or honing your
existing skills). Dive in!
LIVE CHESS TUTORING:
If
you’re like me and still have no idea how to play chess even after watching the
Queen’s Gambit in its entirety, fear
not: Brainfuse HelpNow even offers
live chess tutoring! You can schedule a tutoring session with an expert chess
coach so you can learn strategies and improve your
cognitive thinking. By clicking on Online
Resources, you’ll get access to information on the basics of chess, tactics,
and maneuvers. Very cool!
LIVE FAFSA HELP:
Whether
you are a senior in high school or a “non-traditional” student, applying for
financial aid is no one’s idea of a good time (*ahem*… Right, everyone?). You can schedule a virtual session to
meet with an expert who can assist with any application
questions (e.g. which line to use from their tax returns). Experts will never
request sensitive personally identifiable information. It’s normal to find this
process daunting and overwhelming, but services like this can make the going
less tough.
Here are the
services that fall under the umbrella of Study:
LEAP LEARNING PLATFORM:
Whether your goal is to earn your GED or get ready to enter college, LEAP helps you build academic skills through targeted lessons, quizzes, and live, online tutoring. LEAP creates your learning plan based on a skills assessment that you take at the beginning of the course. There’s enough offered here that you’d be hard-pressed to walk away from this platform without a few new concepts under your belt. Courses include basic math and reading and writing strategies for those entering college, and an assortment of math, reading/writing comprehension, science, and social studies courses for those looking to earn their GED.
FLASHBULB FLASH CARDS:
Flashbulb allows patrons to
search an extensive library of digital flashcards in hundreds of subjects, or
to create their own for efficient self-study. Study anytime, anywhere by taking
your flashcards on the go with the Brainfuse
mobile app. You can even play games! The flash card set subjects include: math,
science, history, languages, geography, business, medical, agriculture,
standardized tests, and more!ePARACHUTE:
Are you an adult at a dead-end in your career? Looking to re-invent yourself through pursuing an education or certificate program? This corner of HelpNow helps you create a profile by guiding through a series of prompts (i.e. do you love math, but also like to perform and be imaginative?) that zero in on your natural strengths and weaknesses. At the end, you’ll have produced a list of potential careers or studies that should incorporate as much of your skills and interests as possible. If you feel so inclined, you can go through the whole process again to further refine your list. You can even explore job details, salaries, local listings, and more. And remember: it’s often just as important to recognize what you don’t like, as much as what you do like!Here are the
services that fall under the umbrella of Collaborate:
BRAINWAVE:
Brainwave is a cool tool that allows you to record a short movie of an
activity or lesson on the Brainfuse
virtual whiteboard. They can be used as notes, or you could send them to
illustrate an idea or concept in lieu of sending an email. Brainwave is ideal for recording solutions to homework problems,
class projects, or any other concepts that involve motion or sequencing.
Whether you’re an educator communicating to students or a student trying to
work through an assignment alone or with a classmate, Brainwave offers a cool method of sharing your ideas. The Brainwave
library allows users to search for Brainwaves of interest that others have
uploaded.
MEET:
Brainfuse Meeting allows you to book a private virtual study room by sending
email invitations to participants via a form. You can set start and end times
and date ranges if you’d like. If you’re “Zoom-ed out” like so many students
and working people are, this might be a nice alternative to that.
ADULT LEARNING
CENTER:
Attention all lifelong learners: the Adult Learning Center has just what you need if you’re considering
going back to school, switching your job or career, tweaking your résumé, or
just want a refresher on overall academic skills.
GED PREPARATION:
If you’re working on earning your GED, there are study materials and practice tests to help get you in shape for your big exam. You can even arrange to meet with a live tutor who can help you with challenging material.
U.S. CITIZENSHIP TEST:
Becoming a
citizen of the United States is a process with many hurdles and challenges, so
why not make it easier on yourself? Much like the GED preparation page, there
are study materials, practice tests, and live tutors to help you through it.
ONLINE RESOURCES FOR JOB SEEKERS:
Whether you’re
casting a wide net nationally or are just looking for jobs in the Worcester
area, there is a wealth of online resources here to help you get on track to
securing a new job or career.
WRITE A WINNING
RÉSUMÉ:
There is
something of an art to writing the kind of impactful, eye-catching résumé that
can help get you noticed in a sea of applicants. Brainfuse’s résumé templates and access to expert help can give you
an edge in an increasingly competitive job market.
IN CONCLUSION:
No matter where
you are in your academic or professional life or career, the Brainfuse HelpNow eLearning platform
offers an array of services that can give almost anyone a helping hand. And it
comes at no cost to you! Anyone with a Worcester Public Library card in good
standing can reap the benefits of what’s available here. For videos that dive even further into this platform, visit Brainfuse’s YouTube page here: https://www.youtube.com/user/brainfuselearning
HAPPY LEARNING!
This post was authored by Ryan D., Youth Services Branch Librarian
