Brainfuse is an educational resource site that provides online tutoring, study materials, and practice tests for learners of all ages. This is an introductory guide to the services provided by Brainfuse through the Guilderland Public Library. Brainfuse services are available outside of the library for patrons with a GPL Library Card who connect through the library website.
Brainfuse contains many valuable educational services and resources for students. This section of the guide provides an introduction to the services provided for children and teens.
Brainfuse Tutoring
Online tutoring through Brainfuse gives you and your family access to on-demand tutors on almost every school subject, for free through the library website. Connecting with a tutor is as simple as selecting your grade and your subject and clicking “Get Live Help”. Spanish speaking tutors are also available by selecting the “tutoría en español” box. Tutors are available between 2:00pm and 11:00pm EST.
Writing Lab
This service is here to assist you with your writing process. In the writing lab, you can upload a writing assignment to Brainfuse tutors, who will review it and provide comments and critiques to improve your paper and help you become a stronger writer.
Please download your file as a .docx or a .doc to allow Brainfuse tutors to make edits
SkillSurfer
Skillsurfer is like a whole school’s worth of knowledge at your fingertips. This service contains readings, learning activities, educational videos, practice tests, and more, including practical advice for things like applying to college, life skills like productivity, filing taxes, and using computer tools.
To navigate skillsurfer, click on the grade or subject you are interested in. Then, select one of the narrower topics, which will provide a list of resources to choose from. If you make an account, your progress on readings, practice tests and such materials will be automatically saved.
LEAP
This service combines the one-on-one attention of online tutoring with the wide range of practice material of SkillSurfer. LEAP connects you with a tutor who will make a customized learning course specifically tailored to your needs. To start, take the practice test of the subject you are interested in. This test will help your tutor understand your academic needs.
Language Lab is a dedicated online tutor and SkillSurfer service for learning languages. The Guilderland Library also provides access to the Transparent language learning site (linked here).
The Send Question service allows you to send a question about a school-related topic and receive an answer from a tutor within 24 hours. If you need an answer faster, you can always contact the GPL Information desk at (518) 456-2400.
Featured Services, at the time of writing, contains three different services. These services are liable to change.
AI Integrity Tutors will connect you with a tutor that can help you learn how to use AI in an ethical and academically sound manner.
FAFSA Help will connect you with a tutor that can answer questions about filing FAFSA documentation.
Live Chess Tutoring will help you learn how to play chess!
Summer Camp contains a number of online lessons to help students prepare for subjects in the Fall.
FLASHBULB contains a library of flashcards and practice tests for practicing knowledge recall, and also allows you to make your own.
Brainfuse provides many valuable resources for adults looking to develop their professional skills or to get back into learning. This section is an introduction to the services provided by Brainfuse for Adult Learners.
Career Resources
This service contains a number of websites and services that can connect you with job postings, help you submit applications, or help you create a resume and other materials needed for job applications.
Write a Winning Resume
This service will connect you with a tutor that will help you create a resume or cover letter. This tutor can help you build a general resume that will work for many applications, for they can help you with a resume or cover letter for a specific job application.
High School Equivalency Prep contains study materials, practice tests, and online tutors to help you succeed on your exam.
The “Prepare for the US Citizenship Test” service provides study materials, practice tests, and online tutors to help you pass the US Citizenship Test.
Microsoft Office Help contains a library of resources with useful information on using Microsoft Office products such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as online tutors to answer your questions and help you develop your skills.
The Lifelong Learning service provides resources focused on helping adults develop and hone their knowledge and skills on Math, Reading, and Writing.
Live Tutoring connects you with an online tutor for one-on-one learning.
Skills building will also connect you with a tutor, but this service is more focused on in-depth sessions about one issue or topic. If you have specific skills or knowledge you want to hone, this is the better service, while Live Tutoring is better for general study.
The Writing Lab service allows you to submit a piece of writing, such as a writing assignment, for review and critique by Brainfuse tutors. They will provide feedback to help strengthen the submitted writing and your writing skills.
The Test Center contains a large number of online practice tests, covering Math, Reading, and Writing subjects.
Send Question allows you to submit a question to Brainfuse tutors, who will research and answer your question within 24 hours. If you require a quicker answer, you can always contact the GPL Information desk at (518) 456-2400.