I recently came across yet another article highlighting the benefits of https://homeworkhelp.ilc.org, the online tutoring website I recently discussed on this blog. The article available at
http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2014/01/29/online-tutoring-site-earns-top-marks has a great success story of a student who struggles in math and finds the online resource a great help.
I do however, take issue when the article twice dismisses the work of tutors when touting the online resource. The article encourages parents to "say goodbye to high-priced tutors" and warns that "parents (are) paying for pricey private tutors...and they don't have to." That could be dangerous advice for parents with kids struggling in math.
First, I don't see the availability of online tutoring resources, whether it is homework help or any other online resource, as supplanting the work of tutors. Rather, I find the online tutor websites complement what we do. Meeting face to face with a tutor once or twice a week is sometimes not enough, and when extra help outside of tutoring sessions is needed I think it is great there are a number of online resources available.
Second, the homework help website is only limited to kids in certain grades, on certain days, during certain times. I think it is a great strategy to meet with a private tutor on Saturday morning and another day during the week right after school (both times when the homework help website is not available), and the online resource when extra help is needed outside of tutoring sessions.
Private tutors are a great resource that cannot easily be replaced by technology. The benefits of one on one face to face tutoring sessions between tutor and students will be the subject of an upcoming blog post. By dismissing the "high-priced tutors," the article is minimizing the work we tutors do for struggling students and is ignoring one of a great number of resources available in the student's backpack.
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