Outsourced Education - the Latest Flattener

I have come across a modest yet revolutionary concept from an Indian startup by the name of Tutorvista.  The concept is not a complex one, but if this company or others like it are even moderately successful with this business model, we stand to chip away at one of society's most stubborn obstacles to economic upliftment. 

Tutorvista offers unlimited online tutoring in English and Mathematics for just $100 a month, as well as preparatory coaching for standardized tests at fees under a tenth of those charged by traditional brand-name classes.  All 500+ tutors are in India, have degrees in education and the subject taught, and work from home.  I believe there are about 2500 students subscribing to the service to date.  Tutorvista does, however, need to make substantial improvements to their website if they hope to acquire hundreds of thousands of new customers.

The tutoring sessions are interactive through the use of technologies that were not even available to consumers just 7 years ago.  Real-time verbal dialogue is conducted via VoIP, while an onscreen electronic whiteboard enables written exchanges.  Soon, low-cost videoconferencing technologies will combine with high-bandwidth Internet connections to expand interactivity into not just face-to-face lessons, but even multi-party discussions with each participant's face in one division of the screen.

Normally, such tutoring would cost $30 to $50 an hour or more.  Yes, pessimists, racists, and socialists (sometimes the same people) will whine about private tutors losing their wages to 'outsourcing'.  But this loss is dwarfed by gains derived from having access to competent individual tutoring now available to underprivileged or simply ambitious students in America.  Is a 5th grader so keen on algebra that he wants to soak up 8th grade material?  The risk to parents is just $100 (and even that fee can probably be transferred to a lower grade if the material turns out to be too advanced).  Does a student feel embarassed about persistent difficulties with a particular subject?  This model offers privacy that did not exist before. 

Of course, to benefit from Tutorvista, an American student needs both a broadband connection and the self-discipline to study hard.  It is arguable that students for which these two conditions are true do not corelate very closely with those who need the most help.  Yet, I could predict the formation of innovative scholarships devised to grant high-school students some form of 'unlimited Tutorvista access until high-school graduation'.  It may even become a popular perk offered by the parent's employer.

This, like Skype, Wikipedia, Zillow, and MapQuest, is yet another dramatic deflation in the costs (whether monetary or time/hassle-oriented) of accessing a key human need, and is a necessary step in the acceleration of economic growth.  If Tutorvista or a similar company can succeed, the benefits to the US, Indian, and global economies will colossally dwarf the losses of in-person tutor wages and private school fees.  Step back and take a moment to ponder what you have just read - the paradigm for the delivery of education has just changed. 

Comments

Your pioneer is about 5 years late. SMARTHINKING has been doing this for far longer, from more countries, in more subjects, and at much greater scale. Search for articles about SMARTHINKING, and you'll find references. You can also go visit www.smarthinking.com.

[GK]

It appears that Smartthinking is out of business, from your own URL.

Plus, if it was 5 years ago, then they could not have made use of VoIP and Internet whiteboard technologies that make Tutorvista interactive.

Anyway, I care much less about which company succeeds vs. competitors than I care about some company building this paradigm on a massive scale to boost macroeconomic growth.

[Assistant Village Idiot]

More and more education in general is going online. My third son is now enrolled entirely online for college, an option his older brothers would never have considered.

Because I work in psychology, I am fascinated by thinking how much of a boon this trend is to those with ADD, Asperger's, OCD, and a host of other conditions.

[abc123]

Assistant, no disrepect intended, but from my perspective ADD, Asperger's, OCD, 'and a host of other conditions' are excuses not real 'disabilities'.

I'm fine with homeschooling and would prefer that all education be privatized and not subsidized, however for the sheer mass of students, who are too busy for school, the cookie mold will continue to cut it.

Two years could be cut off of the current 12 year plan used in the US saving 16 percent of education dollars.

[Assistant Village Idiot]

abc123 - it depends on what you mean by "not real disabilities." They are real conditions, but some of the difficulties that these kids have are created by the cookie-cutter expectations of society, not just schools. Many of these conditions can actually be an advantage, especially in the sciences, if they are accommodated properly.

Yes, these things can be used as excuses, and people do. That does not change the fact that they are objectively measurable and do exist. If you want to get into the argument, I'm good to go. This is very related to how I have earned my daily bread for 30 years.

[Victor]

Enjoyed reading your post.

I am the editor and cofounder of Bookyards, an online library and educational portal located at http://www.bookyards.com

We have been doing this for the past 7 years, and I can tell you that your comments on how the web will help to enhance the educational experience concurs from what we have been experiencing for the past few years. Your comments hit so close to home, that we are now editing, expanding, and promoting our site to take advantage of this development.

While I do not see the web replacing the brick and stone building known as the school....I do see the web assisting and supporting such institutions even more in the future.

For your info, 25% of our traffic comes from third world and fast developing countries such as India.....and I know that this will only increase with time as the world becomes more "flat"

[Ron Shasta]

I've come across a number of online tutoring websites (e.g. tutor.com, homeworkhelp.com, tutoreasy.com, www.schooltrainer.com, etc.). Has anyone prepared a comparison of the various companies (pricing, quality, etc.)?

[electronic white board]

well i must say your really have a good way of presenting things .

[Custom Essays]

I have really found your post to be informative and this has compelled me to visit your blog over and over again. For the sake of relevance I'd like to thank you for your efforts in spreading academic information. Regards.

[danial]

good blog

[Xamuel]

I hope education jobs can become automated in general... the less automatable work is done by humans, the better. Education *is* automatable, the obstacles aren't technological but political :/

[Essay Writing Service]

Hi,
I have heard about Tutorvista before, but dint try it. The information you have shared here is a big help for many students seeking for outsourcing their education. Now a day online education is gaining popularity and more and more students are entirely online for college. With the help of Tutovista children can get good education from anywhere.

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