What is Online Tutoring Like? A Comprehensive Guide

Online tutoring is a form of teaching, usually one-on-one, that takes place over the Internet in real time. It can involve video conferencing, voice calling, or chat support, and most platforms use some combination of the three. Virtual tutoring jobs may have flexible schedules or scheduled meetings, but most are still one-on-one jobs, such as traditional tutoring. Online and distance learning courses require an Internet connection. The advantage of being an online teacher is that you can work from anywhere you want, as long as there is a good internet connection.

You don't need to go to work, you can work from home. No more traveling by car or public transport to get to your home. Several studies show that online tutoring can improve learning outcomes, but it is most effective when aspects of in-person tutoring are mimicked. The key to online tutoring is to identify what elements are often missing from online experiences and add them as features of the platform. But mentoring programs, online or in person, are not without challenges.

Online tutoring, of course, has potential downsides. The body of research on the effectiveness of mentoring has been based primarily (but not exclusively) on face-to-face experiences. Online tutoring must involve a “real person” despite what some technology platforms may claim. The online tutor can be someone the student already knows in real life or someone on the other side of the world that the student only knows online. Thanks to modern technology, students of all ages can use the Internet to connect with tutors in the comfort of their own homes. Although online tutoring can mean a variety of different things, it basically provides one-on-one support for student learning via the Internet.

For many years, online tutoring has been an important part of the tutoring industry. Online learning has allowed tutors and students from all over the world to connect. During the pandemic, online tutoring was the only tool available to many, which seems to have maintained its popularity today, making it an essential skill to master. Online tutoring offers much more flexibility and convenience than traditional tutoring. There's no need to go to work and it can be done from virtually anywhere, as long as your child has access to the Internet.

So, even if you're traveling, your child doesn't need to skip a tutoring session. At a minimum, online tutors must have a reliable personal computer or laptop, high-speed Internet, and a webcam. Now that we hope we have addressed your questions and concerns, let's finish with a brief summary of the benefits of online tutoring. With lower overhead costs and elements such as travel costs being eliminated from the equation, online tutoring has the advantage of being competitively priced and can be a great option for parents who want quality service that won't break the bank. Tactical tutors are expected to show sensitivity to group interactions and progress, or lack thereof, and to respond within an online interaction at critical moments when the student requests their mastery of the topic and ability to explain it or when the student makes manifest errors. It may also be beneficial to try both online and traditional tutoring so that your child can experience both and make an informed decision about what works best for them. The more tutors can identify the type of error (for example, the student still occasionally finds common denominators instead of multiplying them), the more effective the tutoring sessions will be. Once you've identified the best online tutor for you or your child's needs, it's important to draw up a plan of attack. While it's not impossible to teach practical skills, more interactive tools and creativity will be needed to do so in online tutoring. High school online tutoring is primarily aimed at students who need additional help in specific areas.

In-person in-person tutoring can be a scary thought for someone in elementary school, but present them with the opportunity to go to the home computer to chat with a tutor through headphones, and they're likely to find the learning experience much more engaging. Guardians are volunteers and about a quarter of families using tutoring services pay a small monthly fee. EduWizards offers free half-hour trial sessions so you can find an online teacher who can prove to be the ideal online homework assistant for you. In general, online academic tutors are available through various virtual learning environments to help students answer questions on specific topics, assist in essay writing, and help with research. That said, tutors should enter tutoring sessions with a strong sense of the concepts and skills that the student lacks, and be prepared with activities to address those misconceptions. Online interaction is essentially verbal, so nonverbal cues, often considered essential to the mentoring process, are not present.

Shahid Lakha
Shahid Lakha

Shahid Lakha is a seasoned educational consultant with a rich history in the independent education sector and EdTech. With a solid background in Physics, Shahid has cultivated a career that spans tutoring, consulting, and entrepreneurship. As an Educational Consultant at Spires Online Tutoring since October 2016, he has been instrumental in fostering educational excellence in the online tutoring space. Shahid is also the founder and director of Specialist Science Tutors, a tutoring agency based in West London, where he has successfully managed various facets of the business, including marketing, web design, and client relationships. His dedication to education is further evidenced by his role as a self-employed tutor, where he has been teaching Maths, Physics, and Engineering to students up to university level since September 2011. Shahid holds a Master of Science in Photon Science from the University of Manchester and a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Bath.