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The Friendly Internet Tutor

One of the Most Productive Uses of the Internet
  [vote for,

Creative internet sites invite a plethora of talent from potential internet users to provide educational tutoring for students. In the ideal scenario, this could grow in popularity and effectiveness to the extent that "on-line students" could be teached exclusively through interaction with "internet teachers". Diplomas through the internet, free of charge....is not entirely out of the question.

The talent base is extensive and growing. It includes retired workers, laid off workers, theorists, inventors....you name it.

The "halfbaked factor".....design innovative "internet match-making" web architectures which allow an effective forum for students to define specific problems.... and teachers to login, define their expertise, and connect with the students.

Perhaps it is possible to create "educational bonds" between students and teachers which foster long term associations and ultimately career developments.

Bob Wade, May 14 2002

AskAnExpert http://www.askanexpert.com/
"The Kid-Friendly Expert Site!" [phoenix, May 14 2002, last modified Oct 04 2004]

(?) AllExperts... http://www.allexperts.com/
"... is the oldest & largest free Q&A service on the Internet" [phoenix, May 14 2002, last modified Oct 04 2004]

SageBase http://www.sagebase.com/
"Wisdom for the World Wide Web" [phoenix, May 14 2002, last modified Oct 04 2004]

Blackboard Online Classroom Software http://www.blackboard.com/
Teach it yourself. [waugsqueke, May 14 2002]

Looky http://www.ehow.com
[mrthingy, May 14 2002]

HomeworkBroker http://www.homeworkbroker.com/
Matches Homework Buyers to Homework Sellers [grue, Oct 04 2004]


       "Find The Expert." Yup, sure would be useful. Even if it were limited to experts inside a large company it would be useful.
bristolz, May 14 2002

       Croissant for the idea; Raspberries for "teached".
jurist, May 14 2002

       Baked: the Halfbakery.
pottedstu, May 14 2002

       These have been around since at least '95, possibly before then. Mentoring, distance education, interactive learning... it lives under a variety of names. Let me find some links.   

       Hell, even Yahoo! does this now.
waugsqueke, May 14 2002

       speaking of Internet personalities, did anyone else hear about Connie, the AOL advert woman, getting beaten up in the street last week? Apparently it was for her mobile phone, not because anyone thinks her advert is annoying.
sappho, May 14 2002

       I had done some basic research on this....and have personnally tried to use question and answer sites....but generally spend a lot of time and don't get much useful information.   

       They don't attract true professionals or other talented people that are willing to TEACH....and that's not the intent anyway.   

       I didn't know about Blackboard....but this is e-education....with a cost and a very managed system.   

       A big part of the idea was to create a "match making" operation....where experts identified with and became "pals" over time. No quick answers....a solid tutor to get you through a course....or more than just one course.   

       Imagine a wantad...."Hi, I'm in my 2nd year at X Univ studying for an EE degree....I was going just fine until I ran into thermodynamics...which I am currently flunking. I understand the concept of this and that....but I'm struggling with this. Need tutor for Nov to Dec timeframe".   

       There are various programs to solicit tutors for "on-site face to face tutoring....there's one where I work...but few participate....it is inconvenient to travel and it doesn't necessarily provide a good match.   

       The idea was to greatly improve that process....and create an environment which "builds student/teacher relationships".   

       The internet has already shown it's curious ability to attract people together....and to create strong bonds through email correspondence.   

       Possibly a better title would have been.... "Student-Tutor Web Matchmaking Service".
Bob Wade, May 14 2002

       Web-mentors? I'm a great believer in the old adage that "when the student is ready, a teacher will appear".   

       But then again, I've seen "Kung-Fu" more times than any sane man should...
lostdog, Mar 06 2003


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