Online Tutoring

In "The Anxities of Distance: Online Tutors Reflect", we get to read about the experiences of tutors who have helped students and the pros and cons of online tutoring. The thing that I liked about this chapter, was the fact that we get to view the sessions between the students and the tutors.

I think that from reading this chapter, I would have to say that online tutoring, is a big no-no. I like the idea of sitting face-to-face with a student and explaining to them what they want to know or learn. I beleive that when a we participate in online tutoring, we become lazy and rely on what we read over the screen over a computer, but not on somebodys paper. I'm sure most tutors do not think that there is a difference, but I do beleive that there is. I am not trying to say that we cannot help an individual with certain problems that they have in their writing, but the dialogue that we use over the net, lets face it, is very limited. Anytime that we talk to someone during instant message or a chat room, we never get to say everything that we entirely intend to. This is a problem with tutoring online; I feel it's impossible to get all of our ideas across the screen. However, when the tutors respond to people's questions and concerns over their papers, they do effectively help, but I still feel that alot is missing.

The way we talk to a student has such a tremendous impact on how they learn what we are teaching them. Online the student doesn't hear our voice, but they see our words. I am curious to try online tutoring; however, I feel like I would not be as helpful as I would in a face-to-face encounter with a client.