E-tutors’ Teaching Readiness in Distance Learning Companion Project in Taiwan

Abstract E-tutors play an important role in after-school distance learning project. This study focused on developing the readiness instrument for evaluation of the e-tutors, and hoped to assist the mentor to understand the teaching e-tutors well. Teaching readiness index scale was used as research instruments. Besides, qualitative data was also collected for analysis in the study. Distance Learning companion project started from October 22, 2013 to January 9, 2014. Forty four e-tutors participated for one hour and a half a course, twice per week. The results indicated that at the beginning of distance learning companion project, forty-two e-tutors showed high job readiness and high psychological readiness (R4), and two e-tutors showed low job readiness and high psychological readiness (R2). After a semester of teaching and training, 44 were high job readiness and high psychological (R4). According to the results of the study, job readiness was improved and the psychological readiness was maintained. In the study, it was found that the content of the training workshop mainly focused on job readiness, but neglected psychological readiness. In the future, more content about psychological readiness should be designed in the training workshop to support the e-tutors.