Are e-tutoring programs a valid alternative to in-person tutors?

As computers become more prevalent educational tools, even tutoring has gone high tech. Students who need extra help can now use a number of online e-tutoring programs designed to engage and challenge them according to their skill level. For some services, the tutor is a computer-generated learning coach. For others, it's an actual teacher tapping away on another computer.

One Stanford University researcher has found that online tutors can be more effective than their live counterparts. Some sites allow students to create an online avatar to be their coach, which kids may feel more connected to. Students may believe that an online helper won't get irritated with them if they ask for help, and so they may be less embarrassed about asking questions. On the other side, some believe that the encouragement, patience, and mere presence of an in-person instructor will always create a more valuable learning experience. Tell us what you think!