The e-tutor in the virtual classroom

So far we have concentrated on the role of the e-tutor in coaching, assessing and providing subject-matter expertise, through media such as email, asynchronous discussion forums and chat rooms. But the e-tutor is just as likely to figure as an online instructor in a virtual classroom (according to CNN in June of this year, some 14 million people in the US alone are virtual classroom users), a role much closer to classroom training. Just how close is explained by Peter McLintock, e-Learning Director for Global Knowledge: “It’s important to remember here that on-line tutoring is not really different to classroom tutoring. It may be a new medium, but the best instructors are still the best instructors. E-tutors, as with classroom tutors, must be skilled and have proven knowledge with the subject matter. They must have good communication skills, be personable, adaptable and confident, with the course content as well as the delivery tool.”

Peter continues: “A clear voice that enunciates well gains increased importance in a virtual classroom, compensating for the absence of facial expressions and gestures. E-tutors need to convey all the enthusiasm through their voice and avoid sounding dull or downbeat - take two Red Bull and Vodka before the session! Some traits are in common with good telesales skills and also with the media industry. Actually we found that one of our early trainers who took to virtual classrooms ‘like a duck to water’ turned out to be a radio ham in his spare time! Being an absolute expert in managing the technology is vital.”

As a frustrated participant in virtual classroom sessions, Piers Lea, CEO of e-learning specialist, LINE Communications Group, concurs that classroom skills are just as necessary online: “We’ve all experienced ‘death by PowerPoint’ in a face-to-face session and somehow it’s even more stultifying online, particularly when the tutor is also fumbling with the technology. You can’t help but become distracted and can easily end up doing your emails instead.”

“The tutor in a virtual classroom needs to be a dab hand with the technology and that takes practice. But there’s no excuse for boring the audience with one-way communication: the virtual classroom is just like its face-to-face equivalent – you stand no chance at all if you don’t involve your audience continually.”