Tutor.com and Texas Instruments Add Graphing Calculator Capabilities to Online Tutoring Experience

Tutor.com Tutors Become First to Use TI-Nspire Graphing Software in an Online Learning Environment

NEW YORK, Nov. 5, 2009 – Tutor.com (www.tutor.com) and Texas Instruments have teamed up to offer struggling math students homework help to get them through their current classes and beyond. Tutor.com, the leading online tutoring and homework help service, is the first to offer algebra tutors trained to provide help for difficult math concepts through Tutor.com’s powerful online classroom using TI-NspireTM Teacher Edition graphing software.

With TI-Nspire graphing software loaded onto Tutor.com’s propriety web platform, algebra tutors are now able to illustrate math problems four different ways on the student’s computer screen, enabling those who use Tutor.com’s award-winning consumer service to develop a deeper understanding of math concepts. Showing the same problem four different ways enables students with different learning styles to grasp the concepts in terms they understand.

“It’s really neat to be able to show a student how to use their graphing calculator within a math tutoring session,” said Jesi R. a math tutor for Tutor.com. “I recently worked with a student exploring transformations, and using the calculator software was amazing. What a great experience for me and for my students.”

Tutors use the software functionality to show students how to solve problems using their own TI-Nspire graphing calculator. For those who don’t own a TI-Nspire graphing calculator, tutors still are able to better illustrate math concepts that pose challenges for students. Together, TI-Nspire technology and expert tutoring create a powerful online learning environment where students can see the math come to life. As a result, students become more engaged in their own learning process and develop a stronger foundation for future math courses.

A math tutor helps a student graph a problem using the TI-Nspire calculator in the Tutor.com Online Classroom

“More and more students are required to take classes beyond algebra and geometry. As result they must master the fundamentals taught in these classes to do well in future courses. It’s our job to ensure that our tutors and our clients have the tools they need to succeed,” said George Cigale, founder and CEO of Tutor.com. “That’s why Tutor.com has established this relationship with Texas Instruments. By equipping our expert tutors with world-class technology like TI-Nspire technology, we are providing our students the best resources available to be successful now and in their later math courses.”

“According to the U.S. Department of Labor, by the time today’s students enter the workforce, math literacy will be a critical skill for more than 6 million jobs,” said Melendy Lovett, president, Texas Instruments Education Technology. “TI-Nspire technology plays a vital role in helping students engage with the tutor via Tutor.com’s innovative platform. When tutors demonstrate math concepts with TI-Nspire technology, students will gain a better understanding of these critical concepts while growing the analytical skills they’ll need long after they graduate.”

Free Tips and Tutoring

Students and parents can get free tips on how to be a successful math student and make the most of their TI calculator by following Tutor.com on Twitter for the next month where the company will post a tip a day. Students can also get FREE minutes of online homework help from Tutor.com for entering their graphing calculator id at http://www.tutor.com/ti/ .

About Tutor.com

Tutor.com is an award-winning online homework help and learning service that connects students to a certified tutor for one-to-one help. Our network of over 2,000 expert tutors has conducted over 4.5 million sessions in math, science, social studies and English. To learn more about Tutor.com services please visit www.tutor.com or call 1-800-411-1970. Follow Tutor.com on Twitter or blog.tutor.com.

About Texas Instruments

Education Technology, a business of Texas Instruments, provides a wide range of advanced tools connecting the classroom experience with real-world applications, helping students and teachers to explore math and science interactively. TI’s products and services are tested vigorously against recognized third-party research, which shows that the use of graphing calculators helps improve the mathematical skills of students and their attitudes toward mathematics. For more information, visit education.ti.com.

Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) helps customers solve problems and develop new electronics that make the world smarter, healthier, safer, greener and more fun. A global semiconductor company, TI innovates through manufacturing, design and sales operations in more than 30 countries. For more information, visit www.ti.com. Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located on the World Wide Web at www.ti.com.

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For More Information:
Jennifer Kohn
Tutor.com
Phone: 212.528.3101 ext 228
Email: jkohn@tutor.com.

Lynn Windle
Texas Instruments
Phone: 972.917.2668
Email: lwindle@ti.com.