What impact would there be if we were able to offer one-on-one tutoring for every single Bermudian child? Could it revolutionize our education system? Could it help us achieve the standard of education that we so desperately seek for our children? What if it were not only possible but also cost effective?
World globalization is making the world a smaller place. While it may make it easier to outsource jobs, it is also making it easier to buy skills from around the world for a much cheaper rate. What if globalization could be used as a means to give our children a better education? What if we could hire tutors from the other side of the world to work one-on-one with every Bermudian child as a means to assist our in-classroom teachers? A radical idea that just might work.
Online tutoring by the likes of companies like TutorVista is an incredible concept and may well be a tremendous solution for revolutionizing our education system. It’s premise being to take graduate degree level tutors in India and have them tutor children one-on-one over the Internet, unlimited, 24/7 for $100 a month. Skeptical? Check out the video clip of it from the Today Show or the articles in the New York Post, CNET News, or the San Francisco Chronicle.
How would we achieve such a thing? We could begin by taking a hint from the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) initiative and endeavor to equip every child in Bermuda with a laptop capable of communicating with a tutor. Combine it with island wide high speed wireless networks and change the format of the Bermudian classroom to incorporate assisting with both in-class work and homework with online tutors. Top it all off with standardized testing across the board to ensure that all students are achieving the levels required for progression.
Could we achieve one on one education for every single Bermudian child? Could it revolutionize our education system? Could it help us achieve the standard of education that we so desperately seek for our children? What if it really is cost effective and if so, whats stopping us?
Interesting…but I’m still skeptical. You still are going to have to have a fundamental shift in people’s committment to education. The whole “lead a horse to water but…” problem.
They should run a pilot program and see what results they get. If it works, expand.
Thanks for mentioning Tutor Vista. Have you done a survey of the industry? I’d like to see a comparison of companies like http://www.schooltrainer.com, teach or tutor.com, tutor easy, etc. Thanks!