From the above description, it might appear that online tutoring may be a direct mirror of age-old physical tutoring procedures.
However, there are subtle differences in both the approach and the delivery of online tutoring:
Unlike face-to-face or physical tutoring where traditional tutors are used to writing on a blackboard, online tutoring requires additional preparation of course material so that it is delivered to the student in faster time typing into the whiteboard. This is because it is still more challenging to use the mouse to write compared to using chalk on a blackboard. A good modus operandi is to prepare the course materials as slides and then use the white board to illustrate and emphasize aspects of the material as the lesson proceeds. This also means that online tutoring might waste less time.
Since tutoring is usually on one computer - the tutor's computer – the tutor has greater responsibility to regulate access to the whiteboard and even access to speak to the class. In fact, it is a good idea to keep online tutoring classes very small when a lot of interaction is required.
Attendees are in remote locations and tutors direct access to demand attention. As a result, online tutoring might be more difficult for tutoring younger children or those with little attention span unless there is additional adult presence, such as the parents, with the student.