Tips To Succeed In Online Tutoring
The online learning industry has reached an unprecedented level in recent years.
It is no wonder that more and more people prefer online education to the regular one. In the day and age of the internet, you can achieve through online learning much more than in a classroom.
From the teacher's perspective, on the other hand, being an online tutor can be more challenging than you think. In oversaturated informational chaos, among the ocean of bad, moderate, and great tips, how can you choose the right one?
And that's exactly why we met here today because we managed to gather the best tips for tutors that will help you achieve the top in this profession and become an amazing online tutor. Let's get started!
Be
a part of the 21st century
We are talking only
about online tutoring here because it is the most convenient and effective way
of learning in the modern world.
In the light of
recent events, when the global pandemic forces us to reduce personal
communications to a minimum, online learning is one of the best ways to get a
high-quality education and stay safe.
As a plus, you can
actually record every online lesson you take and revisit your sessions later to
note any possible mistakes you've made. Use any simple screen recorder for Windows or
screen recorder for Mac, like Screencast-o-Matic or Screencastify,
to capture your lessons and work on their improvement later.
Also, your students
will actually love these records because it is always better to revisit the
lesson in video form than trying to remember what you actually said through
hastily written notes.
Flexibility
is the best policy
The benefit of
online learning is that everybody can be in a comfortable position in their
home during lessons, and your one-on-one sessions can be customized to fit your
and your student's needs.
So don't stick with
the current plan if you see that your student can't make progress fast enough
or at all. Experiment and change your approach to find the best way of tutoring
this particular student.
Use all your communication skills to learn what can and should be improved in your sessions
because tutoring is a two-way street. You teach your students, but they also
can educate you to be a better tutor.
Don't
stop learning
An online tutor is
always a busy person, but it is important to apply your time management skills into not only planning
effective sessions with your students but also your advanced training lessons.
Education never
stops, and you need to further deepen the knowledge in your area of expertise
to give your students the most relevant information.
It is also a great
idea to take a couple of online courses yourself to see how other online tutors
talk to their students, learn their teaching style, and what you can take from
them for you. To be the best, you need to learn from the best.
Always
have something more to offer your student
Many students that
choose online tutoring actually prefer it if you give extra information to
them. They will love it if you recommend them books, send them videos or pop
quizzes that will help to deepen their knowledge on the subject.
Don't be afraid of
asking what kind of extra materials your students would prefer to get from you.
This personal approach shows that you care about their progress and want them
to really learn.
Lastly, make your lessons as interactive as possible because the traditional you-talk-they-listen way is old and simply boring. Add videos to your presentations, involve your students in discussions, play games and make learning fun again!
Be
ambitious, but do not overdo
With all that being
said about offering students more than they think you'll do for them, we must
warn you that it is great to have ambitions, but it is wrong to wear yourself
out.
To stay productive
and focused, you need to sleep well, rest well, and most importantly, don't
build your life only around tutoring. You need to plan your day in a way that allows you to
take your mind of tutoring, online sessions, and further training.
Burnout is a thing,
and we warn you that it is better to offer more to your students, but you
shouldn't give up everything for them.
Take
feedback and improve your lessons
We have already
talked about observing your students and taking steps to improve your lessons.
Now, you need to do something a little bit different and ask your students for
feedback and how they think you can improve your lessons for them.
You can create a
survey to help your students express their feelings anonymously, or if you work
one-on-one with people, you can send a little questionnaire after every lesson
to get their feedback.
If you have good
relationships with your past students, you can also ask them about their
experience with you and how your lessons stick with them over time. After
gathering all the information, you will be able to learn where you can improve
your approach, what you need to change, and what can stay. It will make you a
better tutor for your students, and they will appreciate your effort for sure.
Conclusion
Every online tutor
should be a person with great communication skills, a thirst for knowledge, and
the ability to learn from their mistakes. And we all make mistakes, really,
even the best of us.
But if you are a
great tutor, you will be able to accept constructive criticism and improve your
lessons for your students. An excellent online tutor never stops learning,
always listens, cares, and tries to make more. If you can master these skills,
you will be destined to succeed in this hard profession. Good luck!
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