Notes that writing centers use computers for computer-assisted instruction and word processing. Suggests that as the field moves towards the social in its scholarship and its writing technologies, writing centers might look towards e-mail for new forms of tutor-student collaboration. Describes an experiment with e-mail tutoring. Explores…

Discusses the need for dialog in distance education programs, based on the results of empirical research. Highlights include dialog and the construction of meaning; dialog and text design; student characteristics and preferences for dialog; dialog through tutorial support; and the relationship between autonomy, learner characteristics, materials…

Describes what reading coaches do (provide literacy enrichment without emphasizing the diagnostic and intervention aspects of reading), how this differs from reading tutors, and how reading coaches can help with literacy development in schools. Discusses activities for reading coaches, and benefits of a reading coach program. (SR)

Discusses and presents examples of alternative styles of transmitting mathematical knowledge at the tertiary level, with a view to promoting debate on the issue. Emphasizes processes rather than skills, and considers problem solving and peer tutoring. (Author/ASK)

Describes the results of an effectiveness evaluation of an "intelligently coached simulation," the SINCGARS Tutor, that was developed to train military officers how to operate a SINCGARS radio. Posttests showed officers trained on the computerized tutor performed more accurately than a group trained on the actual equipment. (Author/LRW)

Identifies strategies reading tutors and struggling readers used while reading electronic books. Finds that tutors primarily used nine types of strategic comprehension prompts, two of them unique to reading electronic books. Finds that the most prevalent strategy used was to prompt tutees to activate the context elaboration features (multisensory…

Reports on a research project concerning face-to-face tutorials in the Open University of Hong Kong's distance education system, including students' expectations of the benefits and their satisfaction. Compares results with those reported for distance learners in the West to assess the impact of cultural context on student attitudes to tutorials.…

Describes the use of video tutoring for distance education within the context of a post-graduate teacher training course at the University of Exeter. Analysis of the tapes used a protocol based on non-verbal communication research, and findings suggest that the interaction of participants was significantly different from face-to-face…

Discussion of effective computer-based training (CBT), or computer-assisted instruction, emphasizes that the media used should be selected to support and deliver the message, not overpower it with unnecessary elements. Topics include computer as tutor; design and authoring tools; interaction; procedural versus principled tasks; and information and…

Discussion of computer-supported collaborative learning, distributed artificial intelligence, and intelligent tutoring systems focuses on the concept of agents, and describes a virtual learning environment that has a multi-agent system. Describes a model of interactions in collaborative learning and discusses agents for Web-based virtual…

Observes that college athletes tend to earn fewer bachelor's degrees, take longer to do so, earn lower grades, and take less demanding curricula than students in general. Describes and evaluates a study program for freshman athletes that requires students to work cooperatively on assignments and how that fosters academic confidence. (DSK)

Examines the increasing demand for and proliferation of commercial tutoring services for grade school students. Discusses the approaches of several such programs, as well as the goals and attitudes of parents enlisting such services for their children. (HTH)

Contends that, in the past, supplemental instruction (SI) has been underutilized in freshman composition courses, based on the assumption that SI is solely a need-based program. Argues that the goals of SI and freshman composition courses are actually complementary, and that collaboration between the two would link the classroom with academic…

Presents two primary-level peer tutoring field studies and suggests ways to implement peer tutoring in a classroom. Lesson planning, students' journal writing, manipulative activities, and students' responses are discussed. Among the benefits of peer tutoring are enhanced self-esteem, enhanced sense of responsibility, improvement of skills,…

Reviews research that confirms the author's beliefs that cross-age tutoring programs are very successful programs. Identifies three major components in successful cross-age tutoring programs: (1) planning the tutoring program; (2) training for the tutors in interpersonal skills, management skills, and content skills; and (3) tutoring techniques…