Category: Policy Updates

Discussion Question + Calculus: What DON’T we cover?

Team Discussion

Today’s discussion question comes from math tutor Robert Wear:

“I know it’s important to use the whiteboard, but sometimes, I feel like using it interrupts the flow of conversation if the session is going quickly. What pointers do you guys have to make it less awkward?”

Calculus: What concepts DON’T we cover?

While Yup covers most basic calculus concepts, occasionally we do receive calculus questions that fall outside of our range.  To distinguish between basic and higher level calculus, we use the AP Calculus concept outline, which is divided across two courses: Calculus AB and Calculus BC. Currently, Yup only covers Calculus AB concepts. The following concepts fall under AP Calculus BC and are therefore outside of Yup’s range:

  • Calculating derivatives of vector-valued functions, parametric functions, and functions in polar coordinates
  • Using derivatives to determine velocity, speed or acceleration for a particle moving along curves given by parametric or vector-valued functions
  • Using derivatives of polar functions to provide information about a given curve.
  • Using definite integrals to determine displacement, distance, and position of a particle moving along a curve given by parametric or vector-valued functions
  • Solving problems involving planar motion
  • Using Euler’s method to approximate a solution or a point on a solution curve for differential equations
  • Evaluating improper integrals or showing that improper integrals diverge
  • Evaluating integrals using integration by parts or partial fractions
  • Applying definite integrals to problems involving length of a curve
  • Calculating areas bounded by polar curves with definite integrals
  • Calculating the length of a planar curve using definite integrals
  • Solving differential equations involving logistic growth
  • Determining whether a series converges or diverges
  • Determining or estimating the sum of a series
  • Constructing and using Taylor polynomials
  • Writing a power series to represent a given function
  • Determine the radius and interval of convergence of a power series

As always, let us know what questions you have!

— Team Yup

Discussion:

Student Fault Tags Clarification

In a nutshell:
Clarification of several tags for which tutors have voiced uncertainty

To clear up confusion about tags for sessions ending by fault of the student, we have clarified a few tag definitions below. Please read through the following explanations and let us know if you have any questions:

“Unclear” – Student ends the session randomly without any notice or reason given.
Example: the student leaves in the middle of a step without warning.

“Other (student)” – Student caused the session to end for a reason that isn’t covered by a specific tag.
Example: the student wants a particular tutor and leaves when they are connected to someone else.
Note: This should be used primarily for Gap Clarification Sessions sessions, but if ever a situation arises where you need to use this for another category that is fine, just email us and let us know about the situation.

“Did not engage / Stopped responding” – This tag should only be used when the session ends automatically due to an inactive student.
Example: The student is unresponsive to a tutor’s question for 5 minutes, causing the session to automatically end.

If you have questions about the above tags or any others we didn’t clarify, please feel free to ask in the comments or email tutor.support@yup.com so we can address them for you!

— Team Yup

Discussion:

NEW: Server Connection Policy

In a nutshell: Starting November 7th, we will be holding tutors accountable for any instances of dropped internet connection during a shift.

Having a working internet connection is an integral requirement for all Yup tutors. After all, that’s how we connect to students!


Recently, we built a tool that alerts us imageswhenever a tutor is logged into a shift but loses connection with our servers, because we’ve seen this issue cause negative student experiences. Now that this tool is more robust and accurate, we will be acting in the following ways:

If a tutor is logged into a shift but loses connection with our servers, that tutor will…

1. Receive an e-mail the next day from scheduling@yup.com detailing the instances of when they were not connected.

2. Receive a pay deduction for any period of no internet connectivity beyond 5 minutes.  (Ex. A tutor was logged into their shift, but not connected to our servers for 15 minutes; 15 minutes will be deducted from their pay.)

3. No scheduling strikes will be given for this issue at this time.

This policy begins on Monday, November 7th, 2016.

Of course, let us know if you have any questions or tips on how to help combat this issue (ex. you see patterns between the cited times and your activity).

Best,
Team Yup

Tutoring Guidelines Update + Survey

In a nutshell:
  –   The way we’re grading rubric area C3: Engage Student has changed
  –   Please take the survey below about who you communicate with most

Guideline Change:
When a student is struggling, it can be tempting to ease their anxiety by fixing a mistake or finishing a tricky step. When this happens, the student is taking a backseat in the session and misses out on a valuable learning opportunity.

Instead, we need to see encouraging “we” language to reassure the student and methodical, guiding questions or examples adapted to their knowledge gap.

By holding tutors accountable for doing the work of the student, we aim to challenge both students and tutors. Please see Tutoring Template 2.2 to ensure you fully understand these adjustments (shown in red below):

engagec3

Tutor Network Survey: Who do you interact with most?

Happy Tutoring!

— Team Yup

Policy Update: Ending Shift Reminder

Forget to end your shift? This will now count as a schedule infraction worth 1 strike.

imagesIt has happened to the best of us: Your shift is over, but you mistakenly close the browser with the dashboard time clock still ticking. It’s an easy mistake to make, but it creates unnecessary complications for the Scheduling Team.

Going forward, we will be enforcing a 1 strike infraction policy for instances of shifts not ending properly. Check out the Tutor Policies for a full list of schedule infractions.

Tried ending your shift but having dashboard issues? Let us know ASAP at scheduling@yup.com or tutor.support@yup.com so we can make sure it isn’t held against you.

–Team Yup