Discussing How Technological Improvements Have Influenced Mathematics In Terms Of Online Private Tutoring
The concept of online tuition is one that first came into existence in the mid 90s as pioneers looked to make use of the internet as a vehicle for learning. Over the next decade we saw a real increase in the number of people using this kind of service and by the mid 2000s it was becoming a popular alternative to traditional private tutoring, particularly in the area of maths. Yet the largest increase in popularity of online tutoring has come in the last 5 or 6 years as improving technology has emerged. Here we look at the technological advances that have impacted upon online tuition and how they have altered maths tuition forever.
New technology
There are three pieces of relatively new technology that have had a particular influence on the area of online tuiton. VOIP is the first, which allows teacher and pupils to speak to each other in much the same way as they would if using a phone. The second advancement is the use of instant messaging. The final technological advancement comes in the form of a shared whiteboard, which can be written on my both pupil and teacher through the use of a mouse or digital pen.
Importance of interaction
In its early days, online maths tuition was automated and saw the student downloading learning materials and then studying in solitude. The technological advances that have been incorporated into online private tutoring mean real teachers can now deliver learning sessions over the internet. The possibility for interaction has increased greatly and allows for teachers to offer feedback, tips and highlight areas of weakness.
Group tasks
Research has shown that students benefit from being able to undertake group tasks, in addition to working on their own. With the improvement in communications they are now able to achieve this whilst receiving tuition online, increasing confidence and understanding of the topic. The fact that online tutoring now offers better learning opportunities than traditional private tutoring, in addition to being cheaper and more convenient, means that its popularity it only going to increase further.
