The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : One more website as classroom

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Sunday, Oct 12, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

One more website as classroom

Special Correspondent

Teachers4UOnline.com launched to offer tutoring sessions

Photo: S. Thanthoni

NEW LEARNING: Teachers4UOnline director Mita Banker, Vaishnavi Reddy, Rama Sundar and Subhadra Venkatesan answer questions at the launch of their live online tutoring website in Chennai on Friday. —

CHENNAI: Looking for an alternative to tuition classes with their odd timings, large classes and tedious travel? Online coaching is an emerging option for high school students and their parents. On Friday, the latest entrant to the field, teachers4uonline.com launched its service, offering live, interactive tutoring sessions in mathematics, physics and chemistry online.

“We want to use technology to enhance the education experience for both teachers and students,” said Mita Banker, a director of Teachers4UOnline.

The internet platform offers the advantages of both standardisation and customisation, said fellow director Jeet Basu.

“E-learning levels the playing field, offering the same standard of education for all…Tutoring needs for every child are unique, so we offer a personalised service,” he said.

The company is targeting students from Class 9 to 12, in the state board, matriculation and central board streams. Currently, a pool of 30 experienced teachers will be teaching the online classes.

Due to varying bandwidth access available in different parts of the country, the classes will start with a two-minute live video introduction showing the teacher, but will then move to an audio format, using the teacher’s voice over full screen slides. The teacher can also write on the slides to allow for live explanations.

Students can use microphones or text inputs to clarify doubts.

The classes will run for about 15 hours a month, and can be accessed in the safety and comfort of the student’s home. The cost of the programme varies from Rs. 560 to Rs. 2520 a month, depending on the subject and duration package chosen.

Teachers from premier schools in the city who were invited to the launch were intrigued, but cautious about the concept.

Mrs.Y.G. Parthasarathy, dean and director of the Padma Seshadri group of schools, said she intended to experiment with the programme for a month.

Some of her staff expressed reservations about a teaching programme without eye-to-eye contact.

“We will allow some of the weaker students in Class 9 and 11 to try it and see if they benefit,” she said.

“We would also ask parents to check it out as a more cost-effective option to tuition classes. It is high time we looked at virtual teaching, since there is such a shortage of good teachers,” Mrs. Parthasarathy said.

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