Педагогические науки / 1. Дистанционное образование

Agadzhanova R. M.

Simon Kuznets Kharkiv National University of Economics, Ukraine

THE ROLE OF ONLINE TUTORING

IN HIGHER EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS

It is a matter of common knowledge that Internet access has made higher education of the 21^st century interesting as well as challenging. New roles of educators have appeared and it is necessary to point out where potential online tutors can go to gain the skills and experience needed to perform these roles successfully. Thus, this article is devoted to the analysis of the role of online tutoring as well as online tutors in higher educational establishments.

To begin with, it is necessary to consider the peculiarities of e-learning. E-learning is the effective learning process created by combining digitally delivered content with learning support services. E-learning consists of the transfer of skills and knowledge using electronic applications and processes. This may include Web-based learning, computer-based learning, virtual classrooms, and digital collaboration, use of audio or video recording, satellite or land-based broadcasts, CD-ROM, DVD, videoconferencing, and even the phone system. E-learning can be broadly defined as any use of electronic technology to create learning experiences [1].

It should be emphasized that e-learning encompasses a number of different modalities or the combination of them. Here we will only address a few examples.

1. Learner-Led E-Learning also called stand-alone or self-directed e-learning consists of the delivery of learning experiences to independent learners. The learners then lead/manage their own learning. Content may consist of web pages, multimedia presentations, and computer applications; however, the majority of e-learning now makes use of the web.

2. Facilitated e-learning makes use of the capabilities of Learner-Led E-learning and add the benefit of having an instructor guiding the learner. This requires the use of e-mail, discussion forums, and chat capabilities depending on whether communication will be synchronous or entirely asynchronous.

3. Instructor-Led e-learning makes use of technology to deliver traditional classes real-time. This is done via the use of teleconferencing, audio conferencing, chat, audiographic systems (screen-sharing and whiteboards), or even via the telephone.

Today Personal Learning Environment (PLE) allows learners to take control of their own learning. They are the next step in the evolution of e-learning. PLEs may be composed of several interconnected systems to allow formal and informal learning, integration of social networks, web services, and other resources. The key to PLEs is that they allow the learners to: set individualized goals, manage content, manage process, and communicate with others as part of the learning [1].

Let us note that true e-learning attempts to recreate, as far as possible, more traditional face-to-face learning environment, whilst simultaneously tries to leverage the obvious differences between the bricks and mortar classroom and the virtual one [2]. Online tutoring, by extension, is similar to face-to-face tutoring, with the most obvious difference being that online tutors will rarely meet course participants and will therefore need to work harder to emulate the social atmosphere and group dynamic characteristic of face-to-face course. Much more time is needed in online courses in what is often called the socialization, “getting to know each other phase”. Whilst 30 minutes may often suffice with a face-to-face group, it is often necessary to spend up to a week online to achieve the same feelings of group identity and collegiality.

There are the pros and cons of online tutoring. For the tutor, the pros are the following:

- Online tutors can work from any location equipped with an Internet connection, and at any time of the day or night.

- Online tutoring means adding another string to your bow as a teacher − as the Internet becomes increasingly ubiquitous, and the demand for online study grows, so will the demand for trained and experienced online tutors.

- And of course, for any teacher, learning new skills and developing oneself professionally is usually a hugely rewarding experience.

As for cons, there are two main negatives. One is the amount of time that online tutoring takes up, not only in providing constant learner support and feedback, but in designing new materials for online delivery. However, there is no point in re-inventing the wheel, and there is already plenty of good material out there on the Internet. Another negative is that institutions which implement e-learning often see it as the ”cheap” alternative to face-to-face teaching, and underestimate the amount of hours that an online tutor will need to put in to run a successful online course. Luckily this rather blinkered view is becoming less prevalent, as online course providers realize that offering quality online course is the only way forward – and that this implies some investment in effective materials design, and in tutor training and tutor time [2].

To sum up, it is possible to emphasize that easy-to-use technology should make a teacher’s job easier and the learners more autonomous. Thus, under such circumstances teachers attend online tutor training courses to get some qualifications to become good online tutors. Moreover, as online tutors need to be able to answer technical questions, they get more IT training. It is important to create the right environment as first-time online participants need plenty of support, encouragement and motivational input. Therefore, online tutors help their students to gain the skills they need to get the most out of the course. Each online course will flag up problems, issues and potential for improvement. For online tutors, it is necessary to listen to their participant feedback and be open to incorporating the best of it into future versions of online courses.

References:

1. E-learning [Electronic version] / – On line – http://www.grayharriman.com/e-learning.htm

2. Teaching online [Electronic version] / – On line – http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/teaching-online