4. eTutor's qualifications and skills
To be able to complete all the tasks highlighted earlier, an eTutor needs to be competent, and continue to improve in three major areas: content-related understanding, social competences and communication skills.
1. Content related understanding
As an eTutor, you will need a deep understanding of the course content. You may be an expert in the content area or develop a deep understanding before you start tutoring the course. In the latter case, you may need support from a content expert. You will also need to be familiar with the relevant course media, including the learning management system, the Internet, computer tools, etc.
Equally, you will need ability to handle everyday basic technological problems and basically support learners in handling those problems. For any technological issues you are unable to handle yourself, you will have to report the issues to the Tech Support team at the soonest and get from them the expected time the issue will have been address. You will communicate this to the learner affected by the issue. This will help learners feel you are in control.
2. Social competencies
As an eTutor, you will need experience and understanding of independent learning and empathise with learner's experience. Building on your online learning experience, you may advise and coach online learners. Empathy may help you understand your (adult) online learners’ needs and provide them with advice on learning strategies they may use to be successful. In online learning, stress and time management are important attributes on the part of learners and tutors. As a tutor, you will establish deadlines, ensure effective management of your own time and your learners’ time without causing a lot of pressure on yourself and your learners (a little and manageable time pressure may be a good motivation for learners). Finally, you will use your team building and group dynamics skills to detect potential conflicts and crises and prevent them from beginning.
3. Communication competencies
As an eTutor, you will be providing positive, constructive and personal feedback. Constructive feedback highlights strong points, points that need to be improved and how the learner may improve their work/learning. Such feedback keeps many online/virtual learners from dropping out. You will also ask the right question to probe learners' contributions in the forum or mentor them to overcome barriers they encounter. This requires communication competence development on your part as a tutor. Finally, you will be motivating learners, based on their need and preferences: some virtual learners may prefer self-governed learning while others may need your guidance for their learning success.