Characterizing Amateur Tutoring Behavior on a Large Online Learning Platform

Abstract

Online tutoring is an increasingly popular learning and business model, which matches students with amateur tutors recruited through a platform. While such platforms offer a unique opportunity to study how online and on-demand learning happens at scale, little is still known about how tutors engage on the platform. We present an exploratory analysis of tutor engagement on a large online tutoring platform, using an anonymized dataset of virtual sessions between tutors and students. Specifically, we show significant association between tutor engagement and associated factors like the subject and difficulty level of questions, and the experience of tutors on the platform. Moreover, we highlight important heterogeneities in tutor behavior, particularly in their work intensity. Our findings hold important implications for tutor retention and learning effectiveness on such platforms.