"Best Practices" in Online Tutoring:
1. Establish contact immediately. Do not wait to
reply. Both online tutoring intake personnel and
online tutors should check their email/bulletin boards
everyday.
2. Tutors should introduce themselves and talk to
students about their problems in more ways than just
answering the question. They should make it a point to
respond to the tone of the email (is it a complete
call for help or just one question that needs
answering?).
3. Tutors should use as many illustrative examples as
possible since they cannot draw on the board for the
tutees. For example, one of my math tutors explained a
problem that was just expressed in numbers by
translating it into a word problem and showing how it
made sense to solve it using the right mathematical
formula.
4. If possible, the college should offer the tutees
other ways for tutor and tutee to meet than just
email. For instance, bulletin boards from which others
can learn as well, and chat rooms. Of course, with
bulletin boards, students need to be told that others
will be able to see their questions and responses.
Still, some really great discussions get going this
way.
5. Advise the tutees to make printouts of their
assignments so tutors can discuss the written
assignments with the tutees. Tutors should also have
printouts from which to base their discussions.
6. Try to give tutees direction without completely
telling them. It’s more of a guided discovery learning
process online. Some students will resist this and
think that the tutor does not understand their need to
get the information, etc. However, it’s important to
communicate to the student why you’re doing it this
way and that it won’t take long before they get it on
their own.
7. Try to encourage the students as much as possible
because they often tend to feel quite lost, alone and
discouraged. Let them know that the online procedure
is new and will get easier.
8. Encourage your tutees to discuss their questions,
ideas and problems with each other as well as with
you.
9. If a tutor is added to a particular class, have the
tutor contact the professor and ask about his/her
expectations of the tutor.
10. Tutors should post an introduction and add a human
dimension in the introduction.
11. The tutor should print out hard copies of the
syllabus, all assignments, and have a copy of the
textbook available to reference. This makes it easier
to know that the students are doing the correct
assignment.
12. If the tutors are available on campus as well,
make it a point to let the students know that they
have the option of working with a “live” person.
13. In returning essays or written work to the
students, the tutor should include a note that gives
some positive feedback. Also, tell them that a certain
symbol will represent a change that needs to be made
repeatedly throughout the assignment. Any other
general directives can be included here.
14. When making suggestions, try to be as neutral as
possible. It is important to remember that the tutees
cannot see facial expressions or hear the tone of
voice of the tutor.
15. Avoid words that might be taken in a negative way.
16. Let the student do some of the corrections on
his/her own. Refer to certain sections or pages of the
text.
17. If the students are not responsive during the
first week, post a follow-up in the main conference
site or bulletin board and invite the students to send
the assignments to the tutor. The tutor should try to
work on a 24-hour turnaround, if possible. If the
tutor will not be available because of health or other
circumstances, it is a good idea to post a notice in
the bulletin board and contact the professor.
18. Tutors should make tutees aware of how to make
contact and how often tutors will check for questions.
19. Tutors should be sure to tell tutees that they
look forward to questions or the tutor could mention
the disappointment of having an empty mailbox. Many
tutees feel they’re a burden if they ask for help.
20. Tutors can make postings advising students if
they’re on the wrong track with assignments. This
reminds students that tutors do exist and that tutors
read the discussions along with students.
21. Tutors can stimulate discussions by sending
private e-mail messages to tutees, especially to those
with diverse opinions and advise them to comment on
the opinions of others who have indicated
disagreement. This generates thought and provokes
discussion among students.