A space odyssey: the implications of moving the writing center into the virtual world

For decades, traditional writing centers have offered tutoring services in face-to-face environments, but with the growing popularity of distance education, many students now need online access to tutoring. To meet this need, some writing centers are exploring the idea of “virtual” tutoring. As we explore options using virtual environments such as Second Life for this purpose, we are confronted with a range of questions about changes in the dynamics of the tutoring process, many of which concern academic integrity.