There are three primary differences between the tutoring available online and in person tutoring.
First, you have the obvious difference of human interaction. Online tutors are not in a position to read body language and other non-verbal cues about a student’s attitude. This should not be undervalued, as emotions such as frustration and enthusiasm are often expressed through body language and tone of voice, and being sensitive to these things in a student can greatly effect the outcome of the tutoring session.
Second, online tutors can be great for answering questions that students have, but their effectiveness may stop there. Because they are unable to easily interact with the materials that students have, online tutors tend to be limited to a question/answer type of interaction. In person tutors do not have this limitation, and can interact more freely with the student and the materials.
Last, of course, is the matter of cost. Online tutors are generally the cheapest way to get a professional tutor, but depending on the typing efficiency of the student, it may not be cost effective. For more information regarding price comparisons between online and in person tutors, please consult “how much should tutoring cost?.”
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