About the Client- http://www.hometowntutors.com
Houston, TX – Home Town Tutors was created to provide students with affordable, prearranged, live, one-on-one tutoring while allowing extended family members and college students to provide tutoring while earning money for school or simply strengthening family relationships.
Business Challenge- Home Town Tutors needed a way for students to be able to come to the website and choose a tutor that can help them with their instructional needs during a time that will work for both the student and the tutor. Once a student had a tutor, the tutor needed a way to give instruction in real time through the website and whiteboard while interacting with the student. A method for the tutor to upload lesson plans and slides for the whiteboard was necessary. After tutoring is over, tutors needed a way to chart the progress of the students so parents can see the results of the tutoring. Furthermore, if a student or tutor could not make a session, there needed to be a way for students or tutors to find substitutes. All of this needed to be done in a safe, intuitive environment to make it as easy as possible for students and tutors to use the site.
How PROACE Helped- PROACE stepped in and first created the initial marketing website to help get the information out to potential students and tutors about the site and drive up interest. Once the marketing site was complete, the core of Home Town Tutors was created, including the signup process, initial student assessment, scheduling, tutor selection process, account management process, and a whole host of other functionality. A Flash whiteboard system was created that would allow students and tutors a private room to hold their tutoring sessions. Both parties can draw on the whiteboard and chat or even use a microphone to talk. Tutors were also given the ability to upload slides that they can use in the whiteboard by simply loading the file into the whiteboard screen. An administration control panel was created to allow the Home Town Tutors administrator to run reporting and handle finances for the website and tutors.
Technology:.NET framework, SQL Server database engine, Flash Communications Server