Online Tutoring Models
Here are eight examples of how differently colleges and universities actually conduct their online tutoring. Many have tried different tools and systems; many are still trying out different configurations. This is just a tiny sampling of the online tutoring that is being offered; myriads of other schools are also using successful combinations of tools.
Alfred State University in Alfred, New York, first used TutorTrac for students to make online appointments to meet tutors on NetTutor for the online live tutoring. They trained their tutors on the technical aspects of online tutoring as well as proper chat etiquette. All the sessions were archived. Unfortunately, students did not take advantage of the systems so both TutorTrac and NetTutor were dropped. Because they are a technical school, an IT staff has written a program for them to register students. Since the university has BlackBoard, they now incorporate their tutoring within that course management system.
Zora Longstreet, Supplemental Instruction Coordinator, advises directors to investigate thoroughly what seems to be a good idea before investing.
http://www.alfredstate.edu/alfred/Tutoring_Services.asp?SnID=1270774628
Citrus College, situated in Glendora, California, started one of the first general subject online tutoring programs in 1996. Marcelle Morris, Learning Center Coordinator, says the program has used and is using a variety of tools. The most experienced tutors handle the e-mails, checking all incoming mail regularly. Their goal is to answer within 24 hours. Chat sessions are set-up by appointment and are conducted by way of Yahoo Messenger. The sessions are archived and put on the online tutoring website for future reference.
http://info.citruscollege.com/lc/OnlineTutoring.htm
Community College of Allegheny County, whose main campus is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, started online tutoring around 2000 according to Anne Tanski, Director of Library and Learning Services. The four top used subjects are math, accounting, writing and chemistry. Students have their choice of three ways to get online help.
1) Join a tutor in a chatroom for a live session after they check the tutors’ schedule. If a new student enters the chatroom, the tutor asks him/her to wait while the tutor continues with the current student. The tutors have figured out a protocol that the students seem to know.
2) Leave a question on the Message Board which will be answered with 24 hours and be posted for 7 days.
3) Search the FAQ, Frequently Asked Questions section and look for a previously answered question similar to their own.
Their online tutoring platform is custom made. Community College of Allegheny County is very partial to their own trained tutors because the tutors know the instructors and requirements.
Minneapolis Community and Technical College started its online tutoring program with chemistry because of the involvement of a faculty member. In 2001, the program started by using Bulletin Board postings on WebCT called “Ask the Tutor” and chat room discussions. Mary Thurow, Learning Center Coordinator, found out the more involved the faculty and the more experienced the tutor, the higher the interaction with the students. She found the limitations were scheduling difficulties, technology constraints, student disinterest and limited access to computers, differences with face- to-face interactions and tutors not having home computers. The successes were willingness to take on this team project, serving students in different times and places, commitment and growth of participants, student satisfaction, wanting to expand the program and learn more, and wish to use technology more effectively. Her recommendations are:
➥ Organize, organize, organize
- Plan with tutors
- Schedule carefully
- Manage tutors’ roles
➥ Encourage student participation
➥ Meet often to discuss issues
➥ Have backup plans
➥ Learn while the technology develops
➥ Know the limitations; work past them
➥ Be gentle with yourselves; have fun!
http://www.minneapolis.edu/academicAffairs/onlineLearning.cfm
Paradise Valley Community College in Phoenix, Arizona, offers online tutoring in the following subjects: accounting, biology, chemistry, economics, English/writing, mathematics, philosophy, psychology and religion. For each discipline site, there are answers to many Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). "Some sites are monitored by a tutor and at those sites the student can participate in a 'real time' chat session with a tutor, post questions to a discussion board, and/or ask a tutor a specific question and
receive an answer on weekdays within 24 hours via e-mail." These activities are incorporated in BlackBoard.
Salt Lake Community College uses multiple tools to offer its online tutoring - e-mail, MyPage webboard, or real time interactive chat interface. Some of these tools are within WebCT while others are within Syllabase. Once tutors receive the student's text, they can set up an appointment to discuss the paper. Tutors have their choice of how. It can be with AOL chat or using the MOO system to discuss the paper in "real time." The MOO system allows for any number of people to have a synchronous discussion. The MOO system does require knowledge of certain commands and concepts that must be implemented in order to get "on line." The Center offers a video explaining each system for the students.
Clint Gardner, Student Writing Center Coordinator, is one of the leaders in using technology for online writing courses and online writing tutoring. Even though he is an advocate of online learning, he says it is another option for very busy students. He says most students still prefer face-to-face tutoring.
Santiago Canyon College in Orange, California, has an unique set up. Tutors at the main campus Tutoring Center connect via fast TI lines to students in an off-campus classroom. One of the 10 to 12 computers in the off-campus classroom is dedicated to online tutoring. This computer has headphones with a boom mike, camera, whitepad, fax machine for compositions, Microsoft NetMeeting, TI lines and cordless mouse. A student off campus calls for a tutor in the Tutoring Center and they connect online for their session. Kathy Gutierrez, Director of the Learning Center, says because of the fast connection there have been no real problems with their set up. Their next step will be to have tutors offer services from home although there is the potential problems of a time delay with slower connections. The Tutoring Center staff is very supportive of the online tutoring.
http://www.sccollege.edu/apps/comm.asp?Q=49&menutab=13&pro=9
Other examples of online tutoring:
Howard Community College uses WebCT's chat rooms for group tutoring.
Mercy College uses online tutors called “course wizards” for their online classes to tutor students, to participate in and stimulate discussions, both in chats and on the discussion boards. They model the role of a sucessful student.
Rio Salado College and University of North Dakota use SMARTHINKING exclusively for online tutoring.
Many colleges and universities have OWL’s. These online writing labs were the first to initiate tutoring online. It is still a real mix how the communication is handled since the tutor needs to see the student’s text. Most often the text is e-mailed, but it can be faxed or uploaded through more sophisticated programs. The communication between tutor and student to discuss the paper can be e-mailed, phoned or discussed in a chat room.
Purdue University has an outstanding OWL with over a million inquiries to its resources, which include hypertext workshops, PowerPoint presentations, Frequently Asked Questions and resource references. One resource of note is a listing of online writing labs and lists of other listings.
Technology Institute for Developmental Educators (TIDE) co-sponsored by Texas State University - San Marcos, College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) and National Association of Developmental Education (NADE) offers five days of mentoring and hands-on practice teaching faculty how to develop online materials and classes. Their comprehensive paper entitled Tutoring Online developed by Lucy MacDonald contains another very large collection of resources and examples of online tutoring.
www.lucyonline.com/online_classes
