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In 2000, the Online Campus at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, NY began to restructure the traditional classroom in a manner appropriate to an online learning environment, through the use of online peer mentors, originally called “Wizards.” This role filled an important gap in the e-classroom for students needing study support and out-of-classroom training.
The duties of online peer tutors include facilitating discussions, training students in the use of classroom software, and assisting students with course-specific problems. However, their most important role is to model the successful student. Having successfully confronted the challenges of a college environment, they provide peers with the benefit of their experience. Their special relationship as peers enables them to make a unique contribution to the class.
This type of program has received widespread recognition, including the prestigious 2002 Sloan Consortium award for "Online Learning Effectiveness.” The basic concept behind the online peer tutor is simple, adaptable to nearly any course or learning style. Peer tutoring allows students to become more self-directed, thus freeing the instructor to spend more time teaching and facilitating, rather than filling time in routine tasks."
This
Web Site is intended to provide guidance, news, and advice
about online peer tutors at the University
of Illinois at Springfield, and other institutions.
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