| From the left: Damilola Osoba and Ava Baldassari at the Math and Science Tutoring Center (MAST) |
| By Shilyn Carheel The Poke Press Freshman Ava Baldassari fell behind in contemporary math, but after a week at the Math and Science Tutoring Center, she said she felt ready for Tuesday’s test. The Math and Science Tutoring Center, or MAST, located on the first floor of the library, provides free academic support for McNeese students enrolled in STEM courses. Trained peer tutors help students master their challenging classwork. Baldassari was behind on work after spending a long period of time in the hospital. Nervous about the work that had piled up, she went to the tutoring center unsure of whether she would be able to understand the material due to her late start. She explained her situation and was instantly met with help. “The tutors explain everything perfect to me,” Baldassari said. “They just help me out a lot.” MAST tutors first asked Baldassari questions to gauge her understanding and determine what she understood versus what she did not. Baldassari’s tutor, Damilola Osoba, said she adjusts her approach when a student is struggling. “If a student is confused or doesn’t understand, I look for a different approach,” Osoba said. “Sometimes it can be doing an example, interactive learning, writing something down or working on the board. Best things are done through collaboration. I think our tutors do a good job of having the student do the work.” MAST Director Jeremy Carlile said the center is meant to be a welcoming space for all students. “I think the hardest part for a lot of them [students] is just walking in the door,” MAST Director Jeremy Carlile said. “This place is for everyone. I think there’s some negative stigma attached to [tutoring]. I think when students come in and they see the welcoming environment here, it immediately makes them feel a bit better.” The MAST center has several resources to help students, including whiteboards, books, scratch paper and tutors. Students can also use the space for self-study whenever the library is open, whether or not tutors are present. Baldassari said the center has helped her become a better college student. “In high school, I was a straight-A student,” Baldassari said. “And then coming into college, of course, it was different, and even though I wasn’t doing too well in the beginning, I came in for help. These people have helped me out a lot and they’re helping me become better, and I could never thank them enough.” The Math and Science Tutoring Center is open to all students, and walk-ins are welcome. It offers face-to-face tutoring or self-study space to do your homework. Tutors specialize in math and statistics, physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, computer science and finance. |
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