E-Tutoring in Higher Education: A Case Study

The present work is focused on the key skills’ analysis of the e-tutor in Ecampus online University on the bases of the reference models described in literature. The analysis is based on a validated questionnaire translated in Italian and submitted to a sample of 220 ToL of the university. The specific objective was: (a) map the tasks, roles and duties of e-tutors; (b) validate a survey tool that on a quantitative basis that can detect the e-tutor skills; (c) improve the TOL and TD skills of the eCampus university, thanks to the data collected. The results show how the role of e-tutor in this University is hybrid, it does not imply a specific disciplinary competence but presupposes a pedagogical background linked to the actual design of the student’s learning experience within the online university. The development of these skills rely largely on day by day practice, through a more or less implicit process of reflection and, implicitly, the reference to an informal community that offers guidance and support to novices.