This week I ran across a blog on Blog Education, that discussed the differences between face-to-face and online tutoring services. What I found intriguing about this post was that it presented the reality that online tutoring is a viable option for kids and adults, and will most likely replace face-to-face tutoring, at least to a significant degree, in the near future. However, is there a way for online tutoring services to improve the tutoring services that they deliver? The answer is yes.
First of all online tutoring services can help students learn by removing them from the confines of 2 dimensional textbooks and hard copy worksheets. They can instead utilize online interactive activities that thoroughly engage students in the learning process. Multimedia programs, interactive quizzes and video demonstrations can all be used to deliver tutoring sessions to students.
While online tools are great, I still feel that students need to be able to interact with their tutors on a one on one basis. Fortunately, the Internet can facilitate this via live chat sessions and via video conferencing. Many online tutoring services are already utilizing both of these tools.
Finally, online tutors need to work with school systems to develop education networks. Of course tutors who participate in these networks will have to pass background screenings and be qualified for the positions. These networks can then utilize district funds to provide students with after school and in school tutoring on demand.
The future of tutoring services can be found online. However, the technologies needed to make this transition are still being developed.
