Online Tutoring Online Tutoring Ethics and Professionalism 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student asks their online tutor for their personal phone number to contact them outside of the tutoring platform. What is the most professional response?
- Provide the number to build rapport
- Decline and direct all communication through the official platform (Correct answer)
- Share only if the student is struggling
- Ask the parent's permission first before sharing
Correct answer: Decline and direct all communication through the official platform
Tutors should maintain professional boundaries by keeping all communication within the official tutoring platform to protect both parties.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes a conflict of interest for an online tutor?
- Tutoring a student in a subject the tutor excels in
- Tutoring a close family member for pay through a tutoring service (Correct answer)
- Using multiple teaching resources for one student
- Offering a free trial session to a new student
Correct answer: Tutoring a close family member for pay through a tutoring service
Tutoring a close family member for pay through a service creates a conflict of interest that can compromise objectivity and professional judgment.
Question 3: An online tutor discovers that a student is plagiarizing their school assignments. What is the most ethical course of action?
- Ignore it since it is not the tutor's responsibility
- Help the student improve original work and address the issue directly (Correct answer)
- Report immediately to the police
- Quit tutoring the student without explanation
Correct answer: Help the student improve original work and address the issue directly
An ethical tutor addresses academic dishonesty by guiding the student toward original work and discussing the consequences of plagiarism.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of having a signed tutoring agreement or contract?
- To legally bind the student to attend all sessions
- To clarify expectations, responsibilities, and boundaries for both parties (Correct answer)
- To guarantee academic improvement
- To allow the tutor to charge cancellation fees only
Correct answer: To clarify expectations, responsibilities, and boundaries for both parties
A tutoring agreement sets clear expectations and responsibilities, reducing misunderstandings between the tutor and client.
Question 5: An online tutor realizes they lack sufficient knowledge to teach a topic a student needs help with. What should the tutor do?
- Attempt to teach it anyway to avoid losing the client
- Honestly inform the student and refer them to a more qualified tutor (Correct answer)
- Charge a lower rate and try to learn on the job
- Tell the student the topic is not important
Correct answer: Honestly inform the student and refer them to a more qualified tutor
Professional integrity requires tutors to acknowledge their limitations and refer students to appropriate resources when needed.
Question 6: Which behavior best demonstrates professional punctuality in online tutoring?
- Logging in five minutes after the scheduled start time
- Notifying the student at least 24 hours in advance if rescheduling is needed (Correct answer)
- Ending sessions early when content is covered quickly
- Skipping sessions when the tutor feels unprepared
Correct answer: Notifying the student at least 24 hours in advance if rescheduling is needed
Providing advance notice for rescheduling demonstrates respect for the student's time and reflects professional conduct.
Online Tutoring Online Tutoring Ethics and Professionalism 1
A student asks their online tutor for their personal phone number to contact them outside of the tutoring platform.
What is the most professional response?