The term is used in literature together with other expressions like online tutor, e-moderator, facilitator, and so forth. to indicate an educational figure of crucial importance in the online teaching and learning context. E-tutoring covers a wide range of roles, which Berge (1995) has categorized into four main areas: pedagogical, social, managerial, and technical.
Published in Chapter:
E-Tutor
Maria Ranieri (University of Florence, Italy)
Copyright: © 2009
|Pages: 7
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-59904-845-1.ch041
Abstract
In recent years, there have been extensive discussions in the information system (IS) community on how to best respond to developments in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry. Some of these discussions have focused on the changing skills of IS graduates and have identified the need for graduates to have an integrated understanding of business processes and the ability to work effectively in teams to solve key business problems in the ICT industry. To better respond to the ICT changes, many firms have implemented companywide information systems called enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to Many scholars believe that e-tutor support in a virtual learning environment is critical for the success of a student’s learning experience. Several reasons support this belief: “practical reasons such as reduction of drop-out rates, theoretical reasons such as mitigating student isolation, and moral reasons such as the obligation to help students succeed” (Denis, Watland, Pirotte, & Verday, 2004). Notwithstanding, the e-tutor profile is still uncertain and calls for deeper investigation and analysis. This paper aims to present a framework of competencies for specific e-tutor roles, through a literature review and personal experience.