A Methodology For The Online Writing Tutor

In an increasingly interconnected world, people are capable of learning from other people without worrying about the physical distance between them. Education still involves primarily brick and mortar institutions, which generally allow for a stronger, more direct connection between teachers and students. However, opportunities are developing quickly for online education, with more sophistication marking each endeavor.

In the tutoring realm, online opportunities exist aplenty. Unfortunately, these opportunities carry with them the inherent danger of losing the intimacy on which the one-on-one approach to intense, personal learning has always relied. Thus, while the ability to learn in one's underwear can be appealing, the tutoring relationship loses something when translated to the online world.

While the screen and keyboard between tutor and student necessarily creates some separation, the participants can salvage most of the educational benefits by planning ahead. The best process will involve a combination of advance submission and real-time interactivity

Before the Session

Everyone involved in the process needs to have a reliable (to the extent this exists), high-speed connection. Typing speed cannot usually be helped, but waiting for the computer to catch up to an idea - or trying desperately to recover a connection after the tutor has already been paid - can create havoc in the process. Avoid the problems you can reasonably anticipate by having the proper equipment and service.

Next, the student should submit something ahead of time - preferably at least two days ahead. If a draft is ready, send it along. If only an assignment is available, send the details of the assignment. The more the tutor knows going in, the smoother the transition to working with the student. The tutor can then prepare comments on a draft, develop a sense of the student's writing level, and generally gear the tutoring approach to the student's individual needs.

During the Session

Tutors and students should always remember that a tutor is not a proofreader. Correcting grammar can be useful if the writer shows a general misunderstanding of a rule, but in general, correcting spelling and punctuation should not consume the time of a session. Instead, focus on ideas, structure, and the like. The tutor's job should be to help the student become a better writer.

As such, the tutor should approach with questions, rather than lectures. Comments on specific sentences can help immensely, so long as they focus on both how the sentence can be improved and why. A good way to ensure this process doesn't get off track is to avoid writing over each other. Online, it is easy to end up talking past each other. To avoid this, establish the rule up front that posting should go back and forth. If a long explanation is required from either the tutor or the student, break it up with an indicator, such as "(cont)." This helps prevent the "listener" from wondering whether the "speaker" has lost connection or consciousness.

Closing the Session

A problem with a text-based interaction is that misunderstandings come along much more easily. Without facial cues, voice modulations, and other hints, nuances of meaning become harder to perceive. As such, the session should conclude with about five minutes of discussion between tutor and student. The tutor should make sure the student feels comfortable with the session. The student, in turn, should ask any lingering questions at this point. Ending on the same page helps the tutor's effectiveness and the student's learning.

While online tutoring is not perfect, its advantages in scheduling and reach make it worth the extra effort involved. In the end, it is one more way for a student to learn, and provides a terrific opportunity if approached thoughtfully.