Online tutoring is a process of teaching in an online environment that may be virtual or networked. In online tutoring, teachers and learners are participating from two different physical locations. For online tutoring, many different approaches enable the practice. They are different in content, and user interface. Also, there are different tutoring styles and tutor-training methods.
Nowadays, online tutoring has also become a business so, many different organizations offer online tutoring services with the institutions, and learners employing the service. It is an internet-based service. An online tutor does exactly what a face-to-face tutor would do. He plans the lesson, teaches carefully, and then ideally reports back on the lesson to parents.
How does online tutoring work?
It varies in a greater sense from one individual to the other and from one tutoring organization to another.
How it works include
Skype or Zoom allows video chat with both the online tutor and the student where they communicate and show their works through webcam.
While a bespoke online virtual classroom environment allows a tutor to follow carefully worked-out lesson programs often using functionality same to an interactive whiteboard.
A ‘shared screen’ type method where the tutor is screen sharing and potentially explaining it for the student to follow, perhaps using a messaging function as well.
Why do people use online tutoring?
Usually, parents and students choose online tutoring for one of four reasons:
- They want to get good grades in their exam, whether that’s SATs, GCSE, or A-Levels.
- They might need to plug gaps in learning or support a child who is struggling in a subject.
- It aims to enable a child to accelerate their progress further and more quickly than they would in a class of 15-30.
- A student may want to build confidence in a subject and develop the habits of learning so that they can respond better in all their lessons in school
Online tutoring offers all the benefits of face-to-face tutoring but with much more ease.
One-to-one or small group online tuition?
Usually, online tutoring means one-to-one tuition lessons where one tutor will be teaching a student over the internet. But, it is also possible for one tutor to teach many students at a time in a small group connected through the internet.
As the group size grows up to 7 or more students, it rather becomes online teaching. One example is the practice that was opted during the Covid-19 pandemic.
What are the most popular subjects for online tutoring?
For younger children of age group 5-12, primary school tutoring online usually focuses on Math and English. As children progress through secondary school then math remains important though, but many tutors nowadays also see large take-up in Biology, Physics, Chemistry, and Languages.
Well, when it comes to a more ‘physical’ subject like dance, PE, or even Art, it may be more challenging to teach online but surely there are plenty of people who are making it possible.
