Do I need to register to use the Ask a Teacher chat rooms? If so, why?

What time do the chat rooms open?

I don't understand! How does the chat room work?

How many questions can I ask a tutor?

Can you suggest some tips on how to avoid long line-ups in the chat rooms?

None of the tutors covers my subject. What now?

I'm a student and I get great marks. Can I become a tutor on your site?

I'm not a student. Can I still register and use the chat rooms?

How safe are the chat rooms?

I am a teacher. How do I become a tutor on Ask a Teacher?

What does Ask a Teacher do with your personal information?

Do I need to register to use the Ask a Teacher chat rooms? If so, why?

Yes. Registering allows you full, free access to the Ask a Teacher chat rooms. By registering, you create a unique "nickname" and remain anonymous while chatting with the tutor.

We ask you to register because we like to know who is using our site−mainly where you're from and what grade you're in. It helps us tailor content that best suits the needs of our users. It also allows us to identify and block access to individuals that engage in behaviour that we deem disruptive, rude, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate.

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What time do the chat rooms open?

Ask a Teacher chat rooms are open four hours a night, from Sunday to Thursday, 5:30 p.m. EST to 9:30 p.m. EST. Summer hours are 7:30 p.m. EST to 9:30 p.m. EST.

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I don't understand! How does the chat room work?

The chat room demo shows you all the features and how they work.

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How many questions can I ask a tutor?

To be fair to everyone, tutors usually limit students to one question, especially when the chat room is busy. You can always return to the line-up. Just click the Ask a Question button to get back in line. If the chat room is not busy, just ask the tutor if you can ask another question.

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Can you suggest some tips on how to avoid long line-ups in the chat rooms?

1. Log in early to beat the crowds. You'll have a better chance of being one of the first to get your questions answered.
2. When you enter the chat room, be sure to click "Ask a Question" as soon as possible, and type your question quickly. This will speed up the process.
3. Tutors who start at 5:30 p.m. EST finish at 7:30 p.m. EST. At 7:30 p.m. EST, a new group of tutors start work. They remain until 9:30 p.m. EST. So, if you're in a room and the tutor's shift is almost over, check to see if any of the tutors for the next shift are available.

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None of the tutors covers my subject. What now?

Our tutors cover mathematics, English, and science. If your subject is not covered by any of the tutors, you could explore online information sources or visit your school or local library. Somewhere, there is help. Sometimes you just need to hunt for it−which makes the catch all the more satisfying!

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I'm a student and I get great marks. Can I become a tutor on your site?

Sorry, we only hire certified teachers in good standing with the Ontario College of Teachers.

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I'm not a student. Can I still register and use the chat rooms?

We encourage parents, teachers and librarians to register and see how the chat rooms work. However, please be an observer only so you don't take time away from a student needing homework help.

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How safe are the chat rooms?

Many parents, teachers, and students are concerned about the safety of online chat rooms. Here are a few of the measures Ask a Teacher has in place to ensure that our chat rooms continue to provide a secure environment for students.

• All tutors on Ask a Teacher are members in good standing of the Ontario College of Teachers. All must submit a clean police check.
• The chat is one-on-one between the tutor and the student. Students do not have the ability to chat with each other. Tutors are strict about keeping students on task and do not ask or answer personal questions.
• Logs of all chats are saved to a separate location and are reviewed daily. Every word exchanged between the tutors and students is on record.
• Tutors have the ability to mute a student immediately if they act in an inappropriate manner. In extreme cases a tutor can evict a student and prohibit them from using the chat rooms again, until such time that they prove they will behave.

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I am a teacher. How do I become a tutor on Ask a Teacher?

Please feel free to email an updated resume to aat@tvo.org. All resumes are filed for future opportunities. All applicants must be certified teachers in good standing with the Ontario College of Teachers. Please include your OCT number and a list of courses taught in the last five years.

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What does Ask a Teacher do with your personal information?

Privacy is an important issue – to you and to us. Ask a Teacher is committed to respecting the confidentiality of our students’ personal information and to making this a safe online destination. When you register with Ask a Teacher to use the chat rooms, we ask you to provide some personal information including your name, age, city, school and email address. This information is collected so we know who is using the site. It also allows us to present you with information relevant to your grade.

No worries, you can remain anonymous while you're using the chat rooms. When you register to use the chat rooms, you will be asked to choose a nickname, to be used while chatting with the tutor. You are only required to share as much information about yourself as you feel necessary. The information you share with us will be used only by Ask a Teacher for the purposes outlined above. We will not disclose, sell or rent your personal information to other companies or people, including other divisions of TVO. It will not be used to contact you. Only if you're caught abusing the Ask a Teacher rules of etiquette, will we use the information we've collected to contact your parent or guardian to inform them of your misconduct. If there is anything you are unsure of on this site, check with your parent or guardian. Or, contact us and we'll try our best to answer your questions.

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