From 1992 to 2003, America Online included Homework Help among its forums. It was rebranded a few times but was best known as the Academic Assistance Center. Sixth-grade teacher Hal Rosengarten was in charge for most of its existence. During the program’s existence, he estimates that millions of students were helped with questions as simple as “What is a noun?” to much more complex. (At one time tutoring rooms were divided by grade level and included college level rooms.)

More than 4,000 people volunteered to help students online during the program’s lifetime, the majority of them teachers or former teachers. In addition to real-time chat rooms where volunteers fielded questions and directed students to resources, the Center included a Knowledge Database with frequently asked questions, a sophisticated e-mail system called Teacher Pagers, and message boards where students could post questions and teachers could respond. Volunteers went through background checks, training, and mentoring. The program ended when, faced with litigation, AOL closed its entire Community Leaders program.

Many online friendships continued, however, and recently Rosengarten established AAC Alumni, a site where former volunteers can share memories and keep in touch.

The site is brand new, and not completely functional yet. All former volunteers are invited to stop by and say hello!

Posted Thu, 15 May 2008 00:01:09 and filed under Technology. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.