Skype?

HOw does skype fit into out tutoring here?

The short anwer is that it doesn’t. All tutoring is carried out through eduFire. This is important as it allows tutors to receive invaluable feedback and build a reputation for future students. :)

Thanks for the question Tracy. It’s a common one. :) While Skype does many of the same things that the eduFire platform does currently we’re going to be evolving and improving the eduFire platform to do some really cool stuff in the future that Skype hasn’t done (and probably won’t). We’ve been encouraging all of our tutors and students to use the eduFire platform because as Marco mentions it allows you to build your reputation and be more comfortable with the platform as eduFire grows.

I use Skype , for teaching French for free, and I think it works fine . Sure you don’t get a “reputation” , but are “reputation” and money the only reasons for teaching ? I really like edu fire , but it’s not the only system .

Hi Sara,

I don’t think anybody is suggesting Skype doesn’t work fine. I have used it myself for many years and it indeed works great.

I think the point here is that Skype is merely a messaging tool, like Live Messenger or AOL’s Instant Messenger. Skype won’t promote you as a French tutor, Skype doesn’t allow you to save chat logs as individual lessons etc. EduFire is about creating a platform where tutors and students to come together. Tutors who rely on tutoring either as an income, whether it be their main income or part-time. Lastly, if you’d like to see a feature or tool that’ll help you teach you can suggest it on the ideas board. E.g. A few users suggested a ‘Whiteboard’ and eduFire created in no time at all!

As for reputation and money. Sure they’re not the only reasons for teaching. :) All the tutors I know, myself included, teach because we love it, like you do. The reputation isn’t so much about the tutor, I see it as helping students decide which tutor best suits them.

So I think, in that sense, one cannot compare eduFire and Skype, they’re simply not the same. You’re obviously content and getting great results teaching for free and that’s wonderful. :)

I HAVE A SUGGESTION…
Why don’t we create a section where you can save e-books or extra material, so you can tell your students to go to the “X” section (Eg.: Library) and look for this or that file and work together with it??

Susan that’s a great idea! As tutors we just need to ensure about any copyright issues if we’re sharing material, though I’m no expert. But certainly the idea is great. :)

If I were you I’d put that on the Ideas Board

OK, let’s not say books, let’s say notes, books extracts we create in word files (correctly credited, of course)or things like that, I have many e-books that are out of copyright, so we could use those too. I’ll put it in the ideas board, sharing material on both sides is important to have lessons that cover everything. Plus, tutors can share that too and maybe have more stuff to improve the lessons.

I think that’s a wonderful idea Susan !

Thank you Sara, I just placed it in the ideas board, to see if the bog guys here in Edufire like the idea!!!

Sue

it is a wounderful idea ,,also we can add books links,,, i recived many links from my (zal Rahman )student and they work for me

Books and notes are always helpful when teaching/learning languages, specially when it comes to grammar.

Sue