AskOnline emerged from an effort to connect Harvard University undergraduates with struggling Boston area high school students. We knew that college students could be an invaluable academic resource for the youth of Boston if we could only overcome the barriers posed by hectic schedules and physical separation. And the Internet was the key.

In the fall of 2001, we created a proprietary program in the City of Boston. Partnering with the Boston Public Library and Harvard University, we developed software to connect Harvard tutors with students all over Boston through a convenient, secure and effective platform. Our program was a huge success and immediately high school students from neighborhoods throughout the city took advantage of this free online tutoring service. That year, our program connected 20 tutors with more than 450 students.

As we’ve expanded, we’ve adapted our platform making it more efficient, and tailoring its capabilities to support learners from middle-school age through adults. We’ve added powerful tools for administrators and program directors. And we’ve continued to add intuitive features for tutors and students.

At AskOnline we continue to refine and enhance our software platform to support educators. We have quickly become the recognized environment for colleges, universities and other organizations that want to develop online tutoring and create capabilities that extend and support their existing face-to-face tutoring efforts.