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online services offer tutoring for all ages, needs [Virginian - Pilot](Virginian - Pilot Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) ONLINE TUTORING is becoming a popular option to provide academic support to students in a convenient and time-saving way. Tutoring services are available for a variety of subjects and age ranges. Most online services offer a connection with a live tutor hired by a company. At Tutor.com, for instance, students work in an online classroom with their tutor and have access to a mobile app for tutoring on the go. TutorVista.com uses a virtual whiteboard space to work out problems and a chat option between student and tutor. At Growing Stars.com, students' sessions are conducted with Skype VoIP service and an online whiteboard. Pricing, tutor qualifications and resources vary. Eduboard.com, for instance, covers subjects from elementary school to university level and costs about $20 for 30 minutes of tutoring. The service offers one-on-one tutoring or a quick whiteboard answer with a sliding scale fee. Tutor.com offers a connection with a tutor in 2 to 5 minutes, charges $39 an hour and offers discounts for military families. So which one will help your student improve his or her geometry Use this checklist to find the right fit: Check qualifications. While many services pride themselves on having qualified tutors, you'll want to find out what those qualifications are. Some companies employ educators with master's degrees, while others train instructors to be certified tutors. Match subjects. Make sure the subject and grade level of your student are served by the tutoring service. Be specific when requesting Advanced Placement tutoring and inquire about the ability of the tutors to accommodate your child's special needs. Read reviews. Look online for comparisons of the price, effectiveness and features of tutoring programs. Greatschools.org and Edudemic.com offer reviews and articles on the top tutoring and educational trends. Start together. Make sure you are available to participate with your child when the tutoring begins. Technology glitches and awkward introductions often can dampen enthusiasm from the start. Parents can help the transition by checking tech requirements and being present for the first session - if not all the sessions, depending on your student's age and reliability. Sharon Cindrich is a mother of two, a columnist and the author of "E-Parenting: Keeping Up With Your Tech-Savvy Kids" (Random House, 2007). Learn more at www.pluggedinparent.com or send your questions to [email protected]. (c) 2012 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |