Meet Scott Frangos: Social Media and Web Hosting Master
July 22, 2008 – 10:25 am by KellyI think one of the biggest advantages of online tutoring is that you have access to subject matter experts with real-world experience in any subject you need help. These tutors aren’t just book smart, they pay their bills based on how well they know their stuff. For example, on GlobalScholar, you can take courses in Web Development, Photoshop, and Blogging from Scott Frangos.
Scott Frangos received a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications/Business from the University of Portland and holds certifications in Web Design, Advertising, eCommerce, and Adobe Photoshop. He has been a College level instructor for close to 20 years and has also managed two different web hosting companies. As Managing Editor of WebHelperMagazine.com, he discusses blogging techniques, tips for SEO, and other social media matters.
Here’s what Scott told me about himself and his tutoring experiences:
What was your favorite subject when you were a student? Why?
Scott: Philosophy — it taught me to think critically, and led me to explore the great questions from science to social issues. I loved journalism too — an interest that would later lead me to blogging.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Scott: I enjoy martial arts, digital photography, canoeing, and probably read technical books and eat pizza too much. I also enjoy spending time with my wife, Pepper, and our three dogs — Wisdom, Spirit and Steggman.
What motivated you to begin teaching/tutoring?
Scott: The computer revolution. When I was an undergrad, we only had typewriters (yup — I go back aways). I was inspired and energized by what you could do with a computer, and I enjoyed helping others realize what was possible. I also am fortunate that as an instructor, I learn far more than I would if I did not teach. That’s because excellent questions from students push me to explore areas I probably would not on my own.
Was there any particular teacher or class that really influenced you?
Scott: When I think back, it is the teachers who approach their courses with enthusiasm and commitment. I remember some sayings from teachers I admired. “Garbage in, Garbage out” — especially important for programmers. “You never really graduate, it’s just that the world becomes your campus” — we are life long learners. “When it’s all over, we don’t have all the answers, but we’ve been to a celebration of the questions” — an excellent way to sum up the pursuit of knowledge.
What do you like best about tutoring online?
Scott: I like the specific opportunities it offers as it continues to evolve. There’s a huge instant “library” out there for immediate reference (the internet), which probably is under-appreciated unless you went to school back in “the day” when you only had books, and file-cards for index access. When teaching online, we can take an immediate look at reference material, and also at specific blogs and websites and see how they are built.
What do you think makes you a successful tutor? What are some important qualities of an online tutor?
Scott: Valuing every question. Considering a subject from a beginners point of view. Communicating enthusiasm for the subject material and for the student’s future empowerment after learning the materials. Thinking of ways to present analogies with which students are familiar as a way to understand new material. Remembering that retention and learning goes up when a student sees, hears, and “processes” (takes notes, responds to questions) the material. These aspects are the qualities of a successful instructor online or off. Specifically regarding online instruction, I think the teacher has to get fluent with the technology of the online classroom, make sure they can assess how well a student is doing, and provide lots of references for the student to review.
What got you interested in blogging and SEO?
Scott: A blog, like a shopping cart, is a smart way to use the power of the computer online, since key functions, like rotating new blog posts to the front page, or totaling up items in a shopping cart, are automated. This is the power of a “Content Management System”, and where all websites are going because it’s a dynamic, automated way to present content. Then, once you have content, a good content management system/blog software helps you do some of the SEO — Search Engine Optimization — work by automatically setting up RSS feeds, and “pinging” search engines, etc. Since the game is to be effective getting the word out, there’s some work to be done yourself in maximizing your site(s) for SEO, so I studied SEO in order to apply it for client solutions, to teach students, and benefit from it at my own websites. SEO goes hand-in-hand with blogging, and the result is much more powerful than “old-school,” static websites. That’s why savvy business people are setting up business blogs.
Thanks, Scott!
