Increasing droves of students are seeking late-night or last-minute homework help from online tutors, the Brigham Young University NewsNet reports, and peers and professors are asking the usual questions: Will they learn? And will they cheat?
The answers appear to be: maybe and maybe. The Web sites offer a range of appealing “virtual” services, including meet markets for tutors and would-be tutees, unlimited online white-board space, and — here’s where it gets dicey — solutions to tricky assignments.
Even as professors become more Web-friendly, turning to instant messaging and e-mail as teaching tools, they’re still not sure that students come to electronic classrooms with the best work ethic. Perhaps only the student can decide: Do I want a virtual lesson or a virtual nap? —Sierra Millman
