Online tutoring refers to the process by which knowledge is imparted from a tutor or knowledge provider or expert to a student or knowledge recipient over the Internet. Online tutoring has been around almost as long as the Internet and takes the following form:
Tutoring via email and knowledge content
In this mode, the tutor or knowledge provider creates knowledge content in a very structured and methodical manner. The student accesses this knowledge at their own time and pace. Interaction between the tutor and the student may be via email. In addition, tests and quizzes may taken and submitted by the student and returned to the graded with feedback by the tutor.
Real-time tutoring over the Internet
With increased bandwidth students and tutors can now engage online at the same time as in a physical classroom. With additional technology tools the tutor can present material on their computer to the student and students and tutors may work on the material on a "whiteboard" at the same time. The whiteboard is the equivalent of a physical classroom blackboard and allows the tutor to write and generate illustrations in real-time. Real-time tutoring typically contains both audio and video devices. A weaker variation of the real-time tutoring is the use of online chat and instant messaging by the tutor to interact in real-time with students.
A good online tutoring strategy may incorporate both forms of online knowledge delivery for effective and lower cost knowledge deliver