Definition of tutoring
Tutoring refers to individualized training support by a tutor in an intermediary role between the teacher and learner. The tutor’s role is to guide a trainee’s learning by supervising them and providing specific answers. Tutoring can be effective for supporting learners who are experiencing particular difficulties, or in the context of personalized training.
Specificities of e-tutoring
E-tutoring is especially important in an e-learning context, as it increases course completion rates.
There are some very real specificities to e-tutoring, due to the fact that the tutor and learner are not physically together. As well as this spatial separation, there is sometimes a time difference, in which case we use the term “asynchronous” (as opposed to synchronous) tutoring.
Tutors can use a range of tools to communicate with learners:
• Written communication: an online chat system is well suited to synchronous training, whereas email or an online forum are more suitable for asynchronous tutoring;
• Oral communication: information can be synchronously transmitted via an IP or conventional telephone. For asynchronous exchanges, the mp3 format or recorded voice messages are better options;
• Tutors can start video calls with their learners, using communication software to make calls and manage online conferences or set up a virtual classroom, which provides more features and allows synchronous communication and document sharing.
Keep in mind, however, that mentoring is based on a difference in expertise between the tutor and learner. The idea behind this type of training support is to pair an expert with a beginner. In any case, whether for mentoring or tutoring, online or face-to-face, the main aim is to help a learner overcome one or more specific challenges.
