INTERSTEM INITIATIVES

BLOGGING / WRITING
As an organization, InterSTEM publishes blog posts and articles in order to update readers about
the impact STEMrelated topics have on the current world. The blogging section on the main
website (https://interstem.us/) is also used as a platform for our writers to share their STEM-
related interests in the form of writing.

Writer Selection

Students who would like to write for our organization will have to fill out a brief form expressing
the topics they would like to write about. The Editor-in-Chief of each chapter is responsible for
scheduling meetings with each individual to explain the logistics of writing blog posts, where to
find writing resources, etc. However, our writing team is inclusive of all high schoolers who
would like to participate in. The purpose of the meeting is more of an opportunity for board
members to get to know the writer and explain logistics.

Communicating with Headquarters

In terms of writing and publishing blog posts and articles, writers must send the topic they would
like to write about to Headquarters through a Google Form. The topic will then be approved by
the Managing Editor and Editor-inChief of Headquarters. The purpose of this system is to ensure
that the topics do not get repeated by writers in different chapters. Once the writing is
complete, the article must be sent to the Headquarters and uploaded in the shared Google Drive
folder (interstemwriting@gmail.com).

It is the responsibility of the Editor-in-Chief to review all the topics and articles before they are
sent to Headquarters. All articles must go through an editing process.

Editing Process

If additional assistance is needed by the Editor-in-Chief to manage all their responsibilities,

additional member(s) can be added to the Executive Board with approval from the
Headquarters. Please contact interstemwriting@gmail.com if this is the case.

Keeping Record

On a monthly basis, the Editor in Chief must send a report to Headquarters detailing the activity
of the chapter’s writing team. In this report, please also answer the questions about progress in
your writing team. The report template can be found in the “Chapter Resources” Google Drive
folder.

TUTORING
Tutoring and giving guidance to students in need is one of the core missions of InterSTEM and a
necessary feature that will be offered at all chapters. Although the specific course design and
tutor selection process will be decided by the local chapter boards, there is a list of requirements
that must be met.

Tutor Selection

Tutors will be recruited locally through establishing an online recruitment system via Google
Forms. Chapter board must keep a record of the contact information of all applicants and gauge
their individual academic capacities through this recruitment form. All candidate tutors must
then pass through an interview process with at least one member of the development/human
resources team or the chapter president. It is important to note that not only are boards
responsible for determining the academic prowess of the candidates through the interview but
also deciding whether their character and work ethics will be beneficial and appropriate in the
InterSTEM community. Boards are encouraged to make a standardized list of questions to assess
candidates throughout the interview. These interviews should be at least 10 minutes long.

Matching Process

Tutors in the database will be assigned a student who has signed up to be tutored for a particular
subject. This matching process can be done manually via the chapter board or spontaneously
through allowing tutors access to a current list of students awaiting matching. Once assigned, it
is the responsibility of the tutor to make contact with their tutee to schedule the first lesson.

During the first lesson, at least 1 member of the chapter board must supervise the tutor through
joining the video conferencing session to determine the final qualification of the tutor. Tutors
must exhibit a strong sense of responsibility, compassion, and dedication to their tutees.
Unqualified tutors as observed through the first lesson will be subject to first warning by the
development team and, if extreme, removed from the organization.

Lesson Plans

It is the tutor’s responsibility to organize and develop their own lesson plans and resources that
must be uploaded for review to the chapter board before every session. Note that these lesson
plans must comply with the chapter board’s list of curriculum outlines. Details can be found in
the Development section below.
Course Development

It is at chapter board’s discretion whether to implement specific courses based on local supply
and demand of these educational opportunities. Chapter boards are responsible for developing
new curriculum outlines that will be provided to tutors if new courses are pursued.

Keeping Record

All tutoring sessions can be conducted either in person or through a video call. Lengths of
available tutoring sessions can be decided on the

chapter boards; however, after any tutoring session, both tutors and tutees must present
photographic proof of the work done that day. This could simply be a scanned page of
calculations or notes taken by the student which must be checked to correspond to the tutor’s
lesson plan for the day. Only after the content of each session has been examined will hours be
assigned.

Group Sessions

It is the chapter board’s collective decision whether to pursue a one-on-one, group, or mixed-
class setting that is dependent on the local tutor supply and demand. All chapters must start by
offering one-on-one lessons.

VOLUNTEER HOURS

The awarding of volunteer hours to tutors and writers must be approved by the executive board.
All members shall be awarded the same amount of hours for the same activity. Below is a
suggested breakdown of hours:

Activity Hours awarded

One-on-one tutoring 1.5 hr/class hour
Group tutoring 2.5 hr/class hour
Blog post (<800 words) 3 hr
Blog post (>800 words) 4 hr
Curriculum dev. 3 hr/lesson plan
Board meetings 1 hr/meeting hour
Event volunteering Contact exec. board

Volunteer hours should reflect the amount of concentrated time a member dedicates to the
organization. All requests for volunteer hour verification must be sent to the executive board.
Volunteering

After establishing the blogging and tutoring programs, a chapter may pursue some of the
strategies listed below to be even more rewarding, both in expanding the chapter and for
personal interest.

PUBLICITY

Have separate accounts solely dedicated to the promotion of events and activities within the
chapter. With a substantially large chapter, the formation of a design and marketing team may
be beneficial in helping the chapter’s Publicity Officer in managing all responsibilities.