Learn Globally with Online Tuition
Online tutoring has been a crucial part of the education section for many years, meeting the need for on-demand tutoring services and helping children the world over to learn study skills, improve in specific subjects and become independent learners. However, the onset of the coronavirus crisis has seen education change dramatically, with online schooling, tutoring and e-learning becoming the norm and the need for additional academic support at the forefront of parents’ and educators’ minds. At the height of the lockdown, it was estimated that 1.2 billion children were out of school, with few having full access to teaching resources, online courses and contact time with teachers.
For many parents, online tuition can seem a bit of a minefield, with a multitude of freelancers and tutoring companies offering widely different services. This is a guide for parents and students on how to choose the right tutor and the main aspects of online tutoring that you need to know about.
For many parents, online tuition can seem a bit of a minefield, with a multitude of freelancers and tutoring companies offering widely different services. This is a guide for parents and students on how to choose the right tutor and the main aspects of online tutoring that you need to know about.
We will address questions such as, What is online tuition and is it effective? A guide for parents and adult learners.
Basics overview:
What is online tuition?
What is online tutoring?
What is e-tuition?
What types of online tuition is available Primary, IGCSE, A Level, O Level, IB students
What types of online tutoring is available for Adult learners
Is online tutoring a good option?
Why is online tutoring needed?
How does online tutoring work?
What are online tuition software recommendations?
How much does it cost for online tutoring?
# benefits of online tutoring vs in-person tuition
FAQs about online tuition
Online tutoring jobs
Basics overview:
What is online tuition?
What is online tutoring?
What is e-tuition?
What types of online tuition is available Primary, IGCSE, A Level, O Level, IB students
What types of online tutoring is available for Adult learners
Is online tutoring a good option?
Why is online tutoring needed?
How does online tutoring work?
What are online tuition software recommendations?
How much does it cost for online tutoring?
# benefits of online tutoring vs in-person tuition
FAQs about online tuition
Online tutoring jobs
What is online tuition?Online tuition is a way of teaching a student one-on-one, using an online tutoring platform. Tutors may be someone that the student knows personally and has seen in real-life or they may be someone in another country whom they have only ever had online lessons with. Just like in-person lessons, very little is needed for online tuition, only a stable internet connection and a device that has a microphone and video software.
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What is online tutoring?
Online tutoring and online tuition are one and the same. In this article, we will refer to both interchangeably. The word ‘tutor’ is most frequently used to describe teachers, professors, academics, instructors, subject specialists and learning support staff, but can include anyone who can instruct a student in a digital capacity.
What is e-tuition?
E-tuition is another term for online tutoring or online tuition. While schools tend to use ‘e-learning’ as the term for online lessons with a classroom of students, ‘tuition’ or ‘tutoring’ usually (but not exclusively) refers to one-on-one lessons.
How does online tutoring work?
How online tutoring works differs greatly depending on the student and the subjects being taught. Some variations of online-tutoring include:
- The use of an online platform for video calls such as Skype, Google Meet or Zoom.
- The ability to screen share and use a messaging or chat functionality, this way students and teachers can look at the material together.
- The use of Google Docs to study shared documents, allowing written work and feedback to be seen by both the online tutor and the student.
- An online classroom in which a tutor follows a pre-planned programme of lessons. Often these lessons include tools such as interactive whiteboards, shared workbooks or online games.
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What makes a good online-tutor?
The first thing to consider when hiring a professional tutor is how well you will get on with them. In addition, someone who has experience in teaching in a particular field means they will have access to the curriculum and a full understanding of what is being taught at school at the moment.
While there are lots of teachers who work exclusively online, most tutors offer face-to-face lessons as well as remote ones and so will have experience with using online tutoring platforms and programs that make online learning easy.
While there are lots of teachers who work exclusively online, most tutors offer face-to-face lessons as well as remote ones and so will have experience with using online tutoring platforms and programs that make online learning easy.
What is required of online learners?
Nothing more is required of online learners than for them to concentrate and to have a good internet connection. If in-school learning is interrupted by school closures, then it is helpful for the student or a parent to contact the tutor prior to the lesson to inform them of what needs to be covered in the lesson, or give them any feedback from a classroom teacher that can be used to aid learning during the lesson.
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Online tuition software recommendations?
While there are a multitude of communication tools for online learning, the most popular ones for schools and tutors are Zoom, Skype and Google Hangouts.
Zoom
Pros
- Has good video quality and can be used on phones, tablets and computers.
- Lessons can be recorded by tutors and sent to students after for them to go over certain points or to reference in their homework.
- The whiteboard option allows students to show their workings out to the teacher, simulating writing down everything.
- Screen sharing is a helpful tool for video calls if students want to show a tutor something they’re looking at on another webpage or their screen.
- There have been some issues regarding its online security and protection.
Skype
Pros
- Much like the features of Zoom, Skype allows you to conduct both screen and document sharing that supports large files.
- Screen sharing is a helpful tool if students want to show a tutor something they’re looking at on another webpage or their screen.
- It offers end-to-end encryption using Microsoft security software, meaning it’s one of the more secure platforms out there.
- No whiteboard or any ability to connect other apps or programmes within Skype, which is fine for basic lessons, but not so good if you’re learning science or maths.
- Video quality and connection are reported to be issues which can waste time during lessons
- No ability (yet) to record your lessons.
Google Meets and Google Drive
Pros
- Google Meets has the same recording facility as Zoom, meaning students can see their lessons later and have it be saved onto their connected Google Drive folder.
- If you’re doing a lesson in your second language, you can choose to put closed captions on calls in real-time to help with language comprehension and acquisition.
- Google Meets is linked to Google Classroom, a sharing platform many schools use every day. Meets has been created with students in mind, so it’s fairly user friendly and can cater to the needs of most lessons.
- Some issues for Mac users, with a lag time on videos and issues with computer speed while Meets is in operation.
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Online tuition assessment / Is online tuition effective?
Experienced tutors will assess their students in the same way that they would in-person. That means setting tests, essays and assessments and asking students to complete them to a deadline. A programme such as Google Drive means students can easily share their essays with their tutor, which they in-turn can comment and make suggestions on. These sharing platforms can also be shared with parents meaning there is more transparency between the tutor, student and parent.
You can also easily connect with tutors offering online tuition with Tutor Around
One of the main benefits to online tutoring is that you can have your pick of the affordable high quality online tutors from all around the world. As the need for social distancing has created a huge need for online learning, it has also meant that tutors everywhere are offering their services online. Whether you need to find the best SAT tutor in the USA or work with someone to help you get into a European International University, the best online tutoring services are now available to you in your own home. Tutor Around’s vetted online tutors are based all around the globe meaning that you can have the best tutoring experience anywhere anytime from the comfort of your own own.
Tutor Around’s Top Ten Questions about Online Tutoring Answered
1. Is online tutoring safe?
Online tutoring is very safe for you and your child, both in terms of cybersecurity and child safety. All Tutor Around’s tutors have faced the same background checks and have been trained to use equipment and programs that protect students' privacy during lessons. With online tuition, parents can stay in the same room or record the first lesson to ensure the tutor is right for their child. It is import to tell a tutor beforehand if they may be recorded from time to time.
2. How expensive is online tuition?
Online tutoring ranges from around £20 an hour for students or recent graduates up to £80-100 an hour for the most specialised and qualified tutors. Using Tutor Around’s app and website, you can select the best online tutoring services in your price range.
3. How do I pick the right tutor? (link to English tutor blog)
The most important thing is to look at a tutor’s previous experience and then to determine whether you or your child will form a good rapport together. We recommend organising a video call or interview first so you can meet with various tutors and ask them any questions before you start lessons.
4. Is there a good selection of online tutors?
A resounding yes. While it may be difficult to select the right tutor (see No.5), there is a higher chance of finding the right online tutor than in-person, especially if you live in a place where finding a tutor is hard. Online tutors cater to the needs of children around the world, not in a specific location. Additionally, many in-person tutors have to factor travel-time and their other commitments into lesson times. Conversely, online tutoring takes place in a time and place comfortable and convenient for both parties, meaning you have more tutors to choose from.
5. How do my child’s needs factor into the selection process?
Whether your child is new to online tuition, has a learning disability or requires specialist attention, one of the best things about Tutor Around’s app is that it takes the stress out of finding the right tutor. Our algorithms make selecting the perfect tutor easy. All you have to do is answer some questions about your child, (such as their likes, and dislikes, hobbies and confidence levels etc) and the app will be able to list the right tutors to match any learning style.
6. Is online tutoring fun?
Online tutoring for kids can be just as enjoyable as a lesson in-person. For young children, there are a plethora of games and activities that students can do online to learn languages, solve maths puzzles or do science experiments and your tutor can introduce you to all of them.
7. What are the most popular subjects for online tutoring?
Online tuition - Maths, English & Science, Primary, KS3, GCSE, A-Level and IB are all subjects covered by virtual tutoring. Due to the pandemic, the subjects most requested by tutors are the core subjects (English, maths and science) and the humanities. Students in the final years of school are requesting GCSE, A-level and IB tutors in all subjects to help them study for online exams and to learn essay writing techniques as many of the exams are expected to be cancelled in favour of more essays and written projects.
8. Where is it best for students to do online tutoring?
Most parents will agree that trying to organise the schedules of one or more children can be challenging at the best of times. Online tutoring takes away the hassle of having to drive a child to a tutoring centre and then wait in the car while they finish. Online lessons can be done in a students bedroom, at the kitchen table or on holiday, if that’s where you are. The beauty of studying digitally is that students and tutors can much more easily fit each other’s schedules. As long as you have an internet connection you’re good to go!
9. What does online tutoring offer that face-to-face doesn’t?
Today’s children are growing up in a world saturated with new technology and therefore acquiring digital skills at a young age is essential. While students study online they’re also learning important skills such as touch-typing, how to use platforms such as Microsoft Office, Google Drive and communication tools which will set them up for their further education and careers.
10. How do students do homework?
Tutors will set homework in the same way that they do in in-person lessons. This may be by writing an essay on Google Docs, completing a test online, showing working out on the whiteboard or making notes on reading tasks. When students complete work on a shared document, tutors can mark it for the next lesson. If a student prefers to handwrite their homework, they can take a picture when they’re finished and send it to the tutor to read through, just as they would their classroom teacher.
Online tutoring is very safe for you and your child, both in terms of cybersecurity and child safety. All Tutor Around’s tutors have faced the same background checks and have been trained to use equipment and programs that protect students' privacy during lessons. With online tuition, parents can stay in the same room or record the first lesson to ensure the tutor is right for their child. It is import to tell a tutor beforehand if they may be recorded from time to time.
2. How expensive is online tuition?
Online tutoring ranges from around £20 an hour for students or recent graduates up to £80-100 an hour for the most specialised and qualified tutors. Using Tutor Around’s app and website, you can select the best online tutoring services in your price range.
3. How do I pick the right tutor? (link to English tutor blog)
The most important thing is to look at a tutor’s previous experience and then to determine whether you or your child will form a good rapport together. We recommend organising a video call or interview first so you can meet with various tutors and ask them any questions before you start lessons.
4. Is there a good selection of online tutors?
A resounding yes. While it may be difficult to select the right tutor (see No.5), there is a higher chance of finding the right online tutor than in-person, especially if you live in a place where finding a tutor is hard. Online tutors cater to the needs of children around the world, not in a specific location. Additionally, many in-person tutors have to factor travel-time and their other commitments into lesson times. Conversely, online tutoring takes place in a time and place comfortable and convenient for both parties, meaning you have more tutors to choose from.
5. How do my child’s needs factor into the selection process?
Whether your child is new to online tuition, has a learning disability or requires specialist attention, one of the best things about Tutor Around’s app is that it takes the stress out of finding the right tutor. Our algorithms make selecting the perfect tutor easy. All you have to do is answer some questions about your child, (such as their likes, and dislikes, hobbies and confidence levels etc) and the app will be able to list the right tutors to match any learning style.
6. Is online tutoring fun?
Online tutoring for kids can be just as enjoyable as a lesson in-person. For young children, there are a plethora of games and activities that students can do online to learn languages, solve maths puzzles or do science experiments and your tutor can introduce you to all of them.
7. What are the most popular subjects for online tutoring?
Online tuition - Maths, English & Science, Primary, KS3, GCSE, A-Level and IB are all subjects covered by virtual tutoring. Due to the pandemic, the subjects most requested by tutors are the core subjects (English, maths and science) and the humanities. Students in the final years of school are requesting GCSE, A-level and IB tutors in all subjects to help them study for online exams and to learn essay writing techniques as many of the exams are expected to be cancelled in favour of more essays and written projects.
8. Where is it best for students to do online tutoring?
Most parents will agree that trying to organise the schedules of one or more children can be challenging at the best of times. Online tutoring takes away the hassle of having to drive a child to a tutoring centre and then wait in the car while they finish. Online lessons can be done in a students bedroom, at the kitchen table or on holiday, if that’s where you are. The beauty of studying digitally is that students and tutors can much more easily fit each other’s schedules. As long as you have an internet connection you’re good to go!
9. What does online tutoring offer that face-to-face doesn’t?
Today’s children are growing up in a world saturated with new technology and therefore acquiring digital skills at a young age is essential. While students study online they’re also learning important skills such as touch-typing, how to use platforms such as Microsoft Office, Google Drive and communication tools which will set them up for their further education and careers.
10. How do students do homework?
Tutors will set homework in the same way that they do in in-person lessons. This may be by writing an essay on Google Docs, completing a test online, showing working out on the whiteboard or making notes on reading tasks. When students complete work on a shared document, tutors can mark it for the next lesson. If a student prefers to handwrite their homework, they can take a picture when they’re finished and send it to the tutor to read through, just as they would their classroom teacher.
Looking to offer online tutoring in a field of expertise?
With Tutor Around there are hundreds of opportunities to offer tuition in your field of expertise.
- Anyone with the right qualifications and experience can be an online tutor provided they have a good internet connection.
- Whether you’re a freelance tutor, a yoga instructor or a cooking teacher, you can find students all over the world with our Tutor Finding app.
- If you’re unsure about how to start tutoring, follow our step-by-step guide about online tutoring jobs and to becoming the best online educator you can be.
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