Online tutorials provide students with information through the Internet as opposed to traditional classrooms. Tutorials are used throughout the country by all types of colleges, including traditional universities, vocational schools and community colleges. Colleges develop tutorials to discuss various topics and use multiple formats. Colleges may allow unlimited access to the public or restrict tutorials to current students.
History
Colleges have developed online tutorials for students generally since the 1990s. For example, in 1998 Trinity College in Connecticut announced its tutorial option for sophomores as a means to strengthen student interaction with facility and promote international collaboration -- 175 years after the school opened. Rowan University created a wavelet online tutorial in 1994.
Types
Online tutorials provide students with extra help to reinforce select courses by providing review lessons and supplemental information (beginning, intermediate, and college level algebra). For example, West Texas A&M University offers a virtual math lab. Fresno City College in California maintains an online tutorial center for math, accounting, English and writing courses. Some tutorials are interactive and allow students to receive personal feedback, while other tutorials are static and only distribute information.
Colleges also use tutorials to teach undergraduate and graduate students about library research capabilities and available resources. While librarians are available to answer questions, the online tutorial allows students to grasp research techniques from the convenience of their dorm or home at any time---even if the physical library is closed.
Before students begin their college education, some schools offer online tutorials as part of new student orientation. For instance, the University of Washington runs an online tutorial to expose students to college life, referring to topics such as learning styles, necessary steps to enroll, degrees offered and pay for college. Students can access this tutorial as frequently as needed.
Features
Colleges typically develop their own tutorials specifically for its students. Tutorials use different formats and may restrict access by requesting valid passwords to initiate the tutorial. For students interested in online college courses, like through the University of Phoenix, tutorials offer opportunities to simulate a classroom setting. Thus, students can evaluate their comfort level with technological features before enrolling in a course.
Considerations
Many colleges cut costs by developing online tutorials. For example, instead of scheduling freshman orientation classes to highlight multiple topics, college provide tutorials that offer students the same information in a more convenient medium. Most tutorials also are efficient as students can access information repeatedly and at their own pace.
Warning
Information provided through a tutorial is sometimes outdated. Most tutorials display a date that informs readers when the tutorial was created or published, located on the top or bottom of the screen. Tutorials might require specific operating systems. Not all tutorials are created equal -- some are well-prepared and present information in a variety of methods (drills, step-by-step lessons, simulation), while others may be boring and ignore the needs of the target audience.
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