Online Tutoring Where to Start

Online Tutoring Where to Start Online Tutoring: Tips for Effective Learning ChaptersWhat Can Be Learned Online?Overcoming Obstacles for Successful Online LearningWhat Do You Need to Take Courses Online?Online Tutoring with SuperprofWhere Else Can You Turn for Private Lessons?Top Benefits of Online TutoringAccording to a report published in The Daily Telegraph, a whopping 72% of students in the UK have had private tutoring in preparation for their Common Entrance Exam.A survey done for the Sutton Trust discloses that 24% of all students in Britain have benefited from one on one tutoring at some point during their academic career. That figure jumps to 40% in London.With the proliferation of Internet-based teaching materials and tools such as virtual whiteboard, online tutoring has seen a 500% growth rate over the past year.More and more tutoring centers are riding this wave by helping students improve their study skills online.A few mouse clicks can uncover a certified teacher of practically any discipline from science, math and English to niche skills, offeri ng tutelage online.Let us now discover how we can get help from online tutors.Hint: there is a lot more out there than academia!Overcoming Obstacles for Successful Online LearningIf you are a digital native - someone who has always had the Internet in the palm of your hand,   you may have tried taking lessons online and found them satisfactory.On the other hand, there is a substantial portion of the population who has had less than stellar experiences.The main reasons are:Technical issues: poor or dropped connections, screen freezes and not hearing tutors' instructions clearlyLack of personal connection withe the tutor: this remains a challenge in spite of the relative proximity in age.A large part of effective tutoring is patience, empathy and support - all rather hard to feel from a distanceEffective communication: without being able to read body language and other non-verbal clues, it is more difficult for both the tutor and the student to build a productive learning environmentT utors are supposed to 'be there' for you, right?That very principle begs the question: how can they be there for you if they are not physically there?Fortunately, the best tutors are aware of your sentiments in that regard and they go the extra mile to ensure that you enjoy the most positive learning experience possible.There is new technology on the market seemingly every day that permits you and your tutor to work closely together to reach your learning goals, be they academic, artistic or holistic - understanding nutrition better and learning yoga, to name just two examples of such.Long gone are the days when the only tools in a tutor's arsenal are books and talk!These days, savvy tutors use interactive whiteboards and digital pens; screen sharing functions that are built-in to most videochat software and they recommend their students use Google Docs or Dropbox, rather than email to upload assignments.You may even find that your tutor has built up Quizlet study sets for you to le arn on the go!Quizlet is a web-based learning application that takes a multi-pronged approach to presenting study materials. From any study set you may use their flashcards, the writing quiz to test your knowledge; you may even enjoy playing the games associated with your lessons.You may use such applications online, while sitting at your home computer, or you may download study apps that your tutor recommends so that you may learn on the go!A quality webcam is essential for online learning. Source: Pixabay Credit: VitaminOf the millions of apps floating around cyberspace - more than two hundred thousand of them dedicated academic study, it is likely you will use either  Skype or Google Hangouts,  or a combination of both.You might already be familiar with these  video chat platforms. They are the most commonly used applications for online instruction because they have a screen share function that allows your tutor to see what you are doing while you're doing it.For example, after a vocabulary session during your Spanish lesson, your tutor announces a short dictation exercise. You would engage 'screen share' so that s/he can see what you are typing as you type it.Isn't that convenient?Hangouts provides the additional benefit of allowing several participants to join a conversation.That is an excellent feature that allows your tutor to teach you and a small group of your schoolmates at the same time. How does that help you?For one, you may be more receptive to instruction if your friend is included in your extracurricular learning. For two: your tutor might give you a lower hourly rate!Online learning is no longer the wave of the future; it is here to stay! Source: Pixabay Credit: GeraltOnline Tutoring with SuperprofHistorically, one of the greatest challenges for tutors to overcome was advertising their services in such a way that they would be absolutely indispensable to students' learning. After all, they are teachers, not marketing experts!Unless, of course, they teach marketing, in which case they would be experts!That problem was compounded by the lack of any outlet dedicated to learning that would permit prospective tutors to write an inclusive bio: what their educational background is and all about their teaching experience.Naturally, tutors could and did place adverts in local papers and, later, as online advertising grew in popularity, a well-written ad was sure to get results - especially if it included a picture.Still, those outlets put forth only a little information; not much more than the tutor's name, minimal educational background information; the subject(s) they would tutor in, and contact details.Superprof came online in 2013, effectively giving tutors a way to market their skills effectively and permitting students and their parents a much wider selection of teachers to choose from.Every tutor gets his/her own page to expound on everything from their educational background to their teaching philosophy and methodology.On e glance at any Superprof tutor page will reveal whether they would travel to your home for lessons or welcome you into theirs, and even if they give lessons by webcam - to individuals or in small groups.Perhaps the best part of Superprof tutor pages is that you are treated to reviews left by previous students. These testimonials are meant to help you decide whether that tutor would work well with you, and also speaks to the depth of experience s/he has to offer you.Obviously, you would want to work with a tutor who has a measure of experience in his/her field; one who charges a reasonable rate and who is responsive to your needs. Thanks to Superprof tutor profile pages, you can deduce all of that! Take, for example...Myriam, who is in London on an Erasmus exchange, has been tutoring maths for several years and has earned such a stellar reputation that she has been named a tutoring ambassador!Benjamin teaches English in person (if you live in London) or by webcam, anywhere in the co untry. His students have left him 5-star ratingsAndy works with students who have special needs; he also teaches Mandarin and English to students up to 16 years old. Testimonials indicate that he is a supportive, nurturing and passionate educator!By skimming through tutor profiles on Superprof, you are sure to find at least one tutor who can help you get an academic leg up.Superprof has:Math tutors  â€" KS1-5, SAT, GCSE and A Levels test prepScience tutors â€" biology, chemistry, physics, earth sciencesEnglish tutors â€" vocabulary, grammar, spelling, ESOLForeign languages â€" French, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, German, ItalianComputers and digital technologyEngineering tutors â€" civil, electrical, mechanicalMusic â€" piano, guitar, drums, singingEconomics â€" macro and microeconomics, econometricsStatistics and ProbabilityHistory tutorsArt tutors â€" sculpting, drawing, actingYoga and fitness training tutorsCollege level tutoring in all subjectsYou can even learn how to cook, sew a nd swim  and do yoga while face to face with a Superprof tutor!Should there be any shred of doubt whether any given tutor is the ideal tutor for you, rest assured that most Superprof tutors give their first hour of lessons for free - just to see how well you would work together.With more than a million active tutors registered to the site, Superprof has a tutor for every student, anywhere in the UK.Superprof certifies that every tutor is properly  qualified to teach in his/her field, something you can verify yourself: every tutor page indicates their profile and credentials have been vetted to provide you with the best possible learning experience, in the most capable hands.Don't let the myriad of choices for online tutoring boggle your mind. Source: Pixabay Credit: PezibearWhere Else Can You Turn for Private Lessons?A survey done for the Sutton Trust discloses that 24% of all students in Britain have benefited from one to one tutoring at some point during their academic career. The figure for private tutoring jumps to 40% in London.Where is everyone finding these private lessons from?Tutoring Agencies that offer Private Lessons OnlineKeystone Tutors has a London-based office that provides home tutoring in the city and online tutoring all over the UK. As well as college entrance and national exam preparation, these tutors provide academic support  and homework help from KS1 to GCSE.In addition to videos and instruction via webcam, Keystone tutors use whiteboard  and digital pens to ensure an interactive experience with their tutees.These dedicated tutors include your parents and other caregivers in the learning process by providing them with a monthly report that details:the focus of that month’s tutoringthe form of assessment usedthe student's achievements and areas for further workthe focus for the coming monthSimply Learning Tuition â€" or SLT is a London-based agency that offers online tutoring across the UK. They also provide in home tutoring and lesson s for home-schooled students.This organization functions as an academic consulting agency, performing an initial assessment exam and a family interview, after which they select the tutors most suited to your child's temperament and scholastic needs.SLT embraces standard academic tutoring subjects that reflect national curriculum demands, as well as SAT, GCSE and A Levels test preparation. Their mentorship extends to tutoring at college level and for International Baccalaureate prep.Websites that Provide Tutoring OnlineTLC Live is a tutoring website based in East Anglia and staffed by certified teachers, for students from KS1 to GCSE.Since their inception in 2003, they have worked closely with schools to develop a bespoke curriculum   of supplemental instruction that ties in with national education requirements. Because of their close association with formal learning, they tutor using the most up-to-date classroom textbooks and exam criteria.The Khan Academy is another great learning portal if you are struggling academically.Created in 2005 with the aim of producing online tools for academic support, their site consists of a series of YouTube videos, organised by subject and grade level. There are also exercises that correspond to each lesson as well as a short test for you to take once you feel you have mastered the material in that lesson.Although initially meant just for primary and secondary school students, the utility soon expanded to include college-level study materials. Today, they include tutorials for college graduates, job seekers and young professionals.Their videos are hosted by real teachers with classroom experience and experts in the discrete fields of study.Two aspects of Khan Academy to keep in mind: the site originates in America, meaning the grade levels would be different than our curriculum.If you are looking for videos to get a better understanding of GCSE maths, it might be easier to find the specific topic you are looking for by its ca tegory - calculus or linear equations, for example, than to look for the lesson you need among the 10th grade math videos.Another, more vital distinction to keep in mind: this is not a tutoring website in the sense that a tutor will work with you one on one. It is a video bank replete with admittedly excellent teaching material that you may refer to for an extra boost in understanding the subject material at hand.You may even want to talk it over with your tutor; see what s/he thinks about it!Finding Your Online Tutor Through AdvertsEvery UK city has their own Freeads. You can conduct a search for tutors of subjects you are interested in, from reading and writing to Algebra and Trigonometry. And then, you only need to read through your search results in order to decide who would best suit your learning needs.At Gumtree you can conduct a search by typing in what  you need help with â€" academic, sports or music, and what city you live in. The adverts are listed in no particular order , so it might take a while to find the best tutor.The benefit of these types of tutor adverts, as well as the next few we cover, is that you are virtually guaranteed a tutor who is local to you.Your local newspaper may list tutor for hire adverts! Source: Pixabay Credit: StevePBWhat About Your Local Newspaper?Diversifying is one of the best ways to achieve results, be it in investing, eating and nutrition and, especially in advertising.The best tutors are aware of that fact, so they take a multi-pronged approach to announcing their services -not just online but by other means as well.Even in these digital times, you can still find one to one tutoring services listed in the classified ads section of your local or regional paper. With a bit of time, you may well find a good match to your educational needs.Another reliable tactic tutors employ is posting fliers in high-traffic areas, such as your local newsagents, supermarkets, libraries and community centres.Most such places - cafés and restaurants included, hang bulletin boards expressly for such notices. In fact, you may consider posting an advert there yourself so that tutors may find you!One more means of finding quality tutelage that has little or nothing to do with technology is word of mouth advertising.Let's say your mate has suddenly started getting good marks on his school work. Naturally, you would want to now how he got so good, so fast... right? That's when he tells you about this great tutor he's been working with and passes on that worthy's number.In the digital world, student testimonials serve the same purpose!While it is true that, these days, such approaches could be considered low-tech, do such adverts necessarily mean you will be divorced from your beloved electronics while being tutored?Not at all! As previously mentioned: savvy tutors employ a range of advertising tactics. They are not necessarily a reflection of said tutor's supposed aversion to digital self-promotion; s/he most likely a dvertised online, as well.As you can see, tutoring in general and, specifically  online tutoring services are not difficult to find. But what does all that searching boil down to?Online lessons will not squeeze your wallet! Source: Pixabay Credit: stevepbTop Benefits of Online TutoringThe benefits of tutoring have long been established and acknowledged by the educational community worldwide.Since the advent of the Internet, especially as it became more than an object of curiosity - as it evolved into an integral part of our lives, the inevitable extension to traditional classroom learning  became learning online.That truth is borne out by the number of colleges and universities offering online courses and even entire degree plans online.Likewise, distance learning has become a staple of professional training and continuing education, as well: rather than employees losing valuable time commuting to overcrowded, expensive seminars, they simply log in to their company's training websit e for instruction, right from their work station!The natural complement to online learning is tutoring online.Just as retail outlets are migrating to the digital realm, so too is the business of education - and for many of the same reasons!The benefits of private tutoring online are numerous.Lower Cost; Less Time!Before enlisting the help of a tutor for academic success, perhaps you could benefit from free tutoring.  Taking lessons or seeking homework help online is cost-effective and time-saving, especially because online tutors are particularly adept at delivering quality instruction via webcam.Besides your study materials, you shouldn't need any more than a computer with Internet connexion, a webcam and a headset.Conferencing software allows for several people to be on the same 'call'. The tutor might suggest group learning with his/her other students, who are all studying the same topic and are at approximately the same level as you are.Peer tutoring is a great way to build conf idence while helping others learn.Doing so will save you even more money. Online tutoring in general and Superprof tutors especially are great at giving lower rates to students who participate in group studies.ConvenienceAccording to a study conducted in 2014, average commuting time throughout the UK clocked at 54 minutes per trip. That is nearly a full hour that you could be increasing your competencies. Nearly a full hour tutors to spend traveling rather than instructing.With tutoring live online, the only traffic is what you and you teacher send back and forth... and that's nearly instantaneous!Through online tutoring, geographical restrictions are eliminated.You could join study groups  in Scotland or Wales â€" or any other (English speaking) country with no worries about where to meet or paying extra for your teacher to come to your home.Furthermore, because of the wealth of tutors advertising their services online, you can easily find a tutor  you would like to work with.If yo u live in a remote area or want to learn a niche skill, you are much more likely to find the best tutor  over the web than a home tutor in your corner of the world.Learning in ComfortStudies show that learning is best done in an orderly environment. If you have joined a learning center  online, that orderly space should include the desk you are sitting at and the room it is situated in.However, nothing says you can't benefit from E-tutoring in your pyjamas or other such comfortable garb.Besides, as someone who has never known a world without a digital presence, chances are you are completely at ease using technology and would most likely embrace the use of any educational platform your tutor might suggest.Breaking from Traditional Learning ModelNew studies in cognitive behavior indicate that changing instruction delivery methods can improve how much pupils retain. By engaging in online learning, you eschew the traditional image of teacher-before-student, effectively exposing yoursel f/your child to the very change that top psychologists recommend.By learning from a tutor online, you are embracing the very latest educational theories for success.The latest data conclusively prove that students involved in online learning tend to outperform their peers in scholastic aptitude tests.  Aren't you eager to drop in on your tutor?If I'm searching for tutors near me, I always use Superprof. With over 1000 subjects and 10,000 tutors, you can learn anything you want.