Online tutoring has been around for some time now. However, it has become the norm during the Coronavirus pandemic. If you are wondering whether or how your child can benefit from this method of virtual learning, this post is for you. Read on to learn everything you need to know about this form of teaching.
What is online tutoring?
It is simply a form of teaching that takes place over the internet. It allows tutors to teach their students in real time in spite of being in different locations and time zones. Students can learn without leaving their home, and that is one of the reasons for the popularity of distance learning.
Web-based learning is possible without a real person serving as a teacher, but true online tutoring is not possible without a real person. The teacher can be the same teacher who teaches the student in real life, or someone living in a country thousands of miles away.
“Online tuition” is another term which is often used interchangeably. In this article we will use both the terms.
How does it work?
Online tuition may take place in a few different ways. The exact method can vary from organization to organization and person to person.
Most commonly, the tutor instructs the student via a standard Zoom or Skype video chat. It is the best method for one-on-one teaching.
It can be a virtual classroom environment that involves using carefully worked out lessons or programs, and an interactive whiteboard.
The tutor may also share a screen, and instruct the student to follow the shared screen. There are online tutoring companies that help students get in touch with tutors.
Why is online learning so popular?
There are a host of reasons why students, teachers and parents are showing so much interest in online tuition. It yields better results because a tutor can pay attention to the specific demands of a student. It offers parents a better way to assess the performance of their children.
In terms of the environment for learning, online tuition definitely has an edge over home tuition. Many students find it very hard to learn in noisy classroom environments. For students who are sensitive to noise, distance learning is a dream come true.
Another great thing about this form of tuition is that it is location-independent. This form of teaching-learning dissolves geographical boundaries, allowing students to get in touch with teachers from any part of the globe. This is the most notable impact of globalization on the education sector.
Online tuition: one-on-one or group tuition?
In most cases, the term refers to one-on-one tuition over the internet. However, many tutors teach multiple students, even small groups, at a time.
Once the group has 5 or 6 students, this form of education is referred to as online teaching. This is what has happened during the Covid-19 pandemic. Although there are benefits of focused personalized learning, many students prefer joining groups, for a host of reasons.
It’s common sense that one-on-one tuition offers students the best opportunities to learn from their tutors. And that is part of the reason why top online tutoring companies put so much importance on one-on-one teaching. Parents who invest in one-on-one tuition provide their children with the great privilege for learning at their own pace.
Popular subjects for online tuition
English and Math are the most popular subjects for children aged 5 to 12. While mathematics remains popular, older students also need help with physics, chemistry, languages, and biology. There are tutors for almost all subjects. However, teaching a physical subject such as art or dance is more challenging.
The role of an online tutor
In essence, there is no difference between an online tutor and a real-life tutor. The responsibilities of a tutor include planning the lessons, teaching the students, and reporting back to parents.
However, by automating some processes, the teacher can save time and focus solely on the teaching part. In this sense, teaching with technology has an advantage over traditional face-to-face teaching.
How safe is it?
If you choose the right tutor, this form of teaching-learning can be very safe. It offers even a greater level of transparency, allowing parents to be present during the entire sessions. You cannot expect this transparency from in-person tutoring. Apart from that, there are a host of other benefits of online learning, such as self-sufficiency, enriching extracurricular hobbies, and expert guidance.
Final thoughts
Online tutoring can actually be more effective than face-to-face teaching, but to get the benefits, parents must choose tutors wisely. If you choose the right tutor for your child, and keep the line of communication clear, you can expect a great outcome.
Founder Dinis Guarda
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