"Online one-on-one private tutoring provides the strongest academic support for students to ensure they stay in and excel in these programs."

John Stuppy

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John Stuppy

Online Tutoring Helps both Online and On Campus Students

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PEOPLE WITH IMPACT INTERVIEW - John Stuppy is the President of TutorVista, a world leader in affordable, convenient and effective internet-based global education services including tutoring, test preparation, and homework help. In the following interview, he shares his insights on the emerging trend of online tutoring, discussing how students are responding and how institutions can benefit from this one-on-one aspect of online learning.

Q: How does Tutorvista.com, and online tutoring in general, cultivate the one-on-one aspect of online learning in order to positively impact student engagement and retention?
John Stuppy: In order to be successful in school, students have to get through their program. In order for an institution to be successful, it has to get students through its program. Therefore, success for both student and the institution happens when students make it through courses and graduate. When this happens, academic institutions look like they are better serving the needs of students, they are admitting the right students into their programs and not overselling, and they maximize their graduation rate and financial rewards as well. ‘Gatekeeper’ courses such as developmental math, writing, statistics and sciences are those that often set students back. My experience and research suggests students that struggle through and do not pass critical gatekeeper courses are at risk for failing to complete their degree – they get discouraged and drop out. Online one-on-one private tutoring provides the strongest academic support for students to ensure they stay in and excel in these programs. This results in increased persistence and graduation rates. The resulting financial benefit for the institution is higher revenues against a fixed acquisition cost – a better bottom line.

Q: What makes online tutoring unique compared to traditional tutoring methods?
John Stuppy: Many schools offer academic assistance with specific, limited office hours. Students often must go across campus to use these services and wait in line. At Tutorvista.com, we provide convenient, 24/7 access to one-on-one private tutoring, test prep, and homework help via the Internet. Students don’t have to fit their day around office hours or tutor schedules. Instead students can schedule sessions in advance and know their favorite tutor will be available for them, and they can log-in and get last-minute, on-demand help whenever they want -- 24 hours a day. Our service costs a reasonable flat rate of $99.99/month for unlimited academic support—we are like the “Netflix” of tutoring services. We charge a simple subscription fee – a flat rate per month -- for unlimited tutoring throughout the month in over 30 subjects.

Q: What technology does Tutorvista.com utilize in online tutoring sessions?
John Stuppy: Using a Mac or a PC, students download a free ‘voice over internet phone’ software application that allows their computer to operate like a phone. A student uses that software to talk directly with their live, one-on-one tutor. The software also provides a virtual whiteboard – it’s an area on their computer screen where whatever the tutor writes, draws or calculates, the student sees and whatever the student does, the tutor sees. It’s like sharing a piece of paper. But it’s more than that too because the tutor and student can scan and display worksheets or textbooks, and load simulations, animations and videos. The virtual whiteboard provides a rich, engaging environment where students can show what they know, create their own examples, see how things work, solve problems, take assessments, and do hands-on learning with cool computer-based education tools. Because students are talking, listening, doing, typing and drawing, they are fully participating in the learning experience. Studies have shown that students who talk, listen, watch and do learn more, learn faster and remember things longer than students who just read and type.

Q: Are students responding to the idea of online tutoring?
John Stuppy: Yes, they are. Online tutoring has emerged as an effective, convenient, and beneficial way to get effective academic support. A three year study of 500,000 students investigating the effectiveness of online versus traditional face-to-face tutoring found online tutoring to be just as effective in terms of pre-test/post-test gains on standardized tests as face-to-face tutoring. Not only is online tutoring as effective as its in-person counterpart, it is much more convenient and flexible. Online tutoring can be available 24 hours a day and a student doesn’t have to drive or walk across campus to take advantage of it. Online tutors are well-versed in using technology to tailor sessions to fit students’ specific needs. Also, students that utilize online tutoring are much more likely to admit they don’t understand something, feeling more at ease to ask more questions. Online tutoring is usually very productive as a result.

John J. Stuppy, MBA, Ph.D., is an entrepreneur with 30 years technology and management experience including a 15 year successful track record in education program creation, operations, assessment, instruction, sales, marketing, acquisitions & business development. Previously he has held senior management positions at The Princeton Review, Educational Testing Service, and Sylvan Learning Systems. He earned twelve US and international patents for internet-based assessment, instructional delivery, student and curriculum management, and incentive-based learning systems.

See an index of all the "People with Impact" Interviews

Additional sections of this journal address student recruiting and student retention. We have also placed all articles with a common theme of online education and distance education programs in a separate portal. New articles will be posted each Monday, please check back by bookmarking this site or placing a link to this Innovative Practices in Communicating with Students portal.