As a parent or caregiver, it’s natural to care about your child’s education: you want to know that they’re learning and doing well in school. If they start falling behind, it can feel overwhelming for both your child and for you. If you’re not with them in the classroom, what can you do to support them?
More and more, families are looking to online tutoring to help their children with classroom material. Whether students need to catch up after remote learning during the pandemic or have a difficult time learning in a traditional classroom setting, tutoring has proven to be the most effective way to help students who need additional academic support.
Online tutoring has become increasingly popular in the past few years, especially since the pandemic limited in-person interactions. But even though restrictions have eased, online tutoring has promise beyond the pandemic: along with allowing students to access additional academic support from home, ongoing virtual tutoring sessions can have other benefits as well.
For many students and families, their first encounters with online education and remote learning were the result of pandemic-prompted shutdowns. Unfortunately, these impressions weren’t always positive ones. In an unfamiliar learning environment and difficult circumstances, students struggled to engage with class instruction and complete their assignments. “Zoom class” became synonymous with interruptions, distractions, and disengagement.
It might seem ironic that families are now seeking a virtual solution to help address the impacts of remote learning, but online education—at least in the way that millions of students have experienced it—may be better suited for a modality like tutoring. Online tutoring is usually offered through one-on-one video calls, which encourages more engagement than a virtual class with dozens of students, and tools like collaborative whiteboards provide more opportunities for hands-on learning.
And, unlike virtual classroom instruction, the remote nature of online tutoring can actually be a plus for many families. When schools closed for remote learning during the pandemic, parents and caregivers had to make work or other arrangements to provide supervision for the hours their children would have usually been at school. But with tutoring, online options can accommodate students whose families might not otherwise be able to fit in-person tutoring into their schedules.
Families are becoming more comfortable with the idea of getting academic help online, and they aren’t the only ones who see the potential benefits of online tutoring. Even though schools and educational institutions have largely transitioned away from remote classroom instruction, many are introducing online tutoring programs to supplement classroom instruction and provide additional help for students who need support.
Although the initial demand for online learning may have been driven by the pandemic, we’ve seen that not all virtual education functions in the same way—and the need for online tutoring in particular will only continue to grow.
No two students are the same. For many families, one of the benefits of online tutoring is the ability to customize sessions based on their specific needs, from flexible scheduling to individual learning styles.
If you're looking for personalized instruction that can be tailored to your child, online tutoring can help make sure they receive the attention and direction they need. Instead of one-size-fits-all classes or curriculum, students can learn at their own pace without feeling pressured, anxious, or like they’re falling behind.
Being able to get tutoring virtually at home, at a time that works with your child’s schedule, can be much more convenient than in-person tutoring options with fixed class times or limited availability. If you or your child has a busy schedule, online tutoring can eliminate the need to rearrange them for in-person sessions or figure out additional pickups, drop-offs, and trips.
Different students learn in different ways. Some are visual learners, while others are auditory or kinesthetic learners. Online tutoring can accommodate a variety of learning styles, so students can learn in the way that works best for them. Working with a tutor who’s experienced with adapting instruction to student needs helps you ensure that your child is getting the most out of their tutoring sessions.
Online tutoring can supplement what your child is learning in the classroom and help them better understand the material. Tutors aren’t limited by the curriculum and pacing of the classroom, so they can work with your child to help them fully understand the concepts they're learning at school—making a positive impact on both your child's grades and their overall understanding of the material.
Because online tutoring doesn’t require travel time or the costs of maintaining a physical space, it’s often more affordable than in-person tutoring options. In addition, many online tutoring services offer discounts via package deals or monthly subscriptions. If you're looking for an affordable way to give your child the personalized instruction they need, online tutoring is a great option.
The sudden shift to remote learning during the pandemic may have been disruptive and challenging, but it also created a better understanding of how online education could be more streamlined, accessible, and effective.
With most online tutoring technology today, tutors and students can make video calls in real time as long as they have a working internet connection and a device with a camera—even if they’re not ultra-fast broadband speeds or the latest computers or tablets on the market.
Technology has also made online tutoring more interactive. Many online platforms include shared whiteboards or similar collaborative tools, so tutors can observe how students are working through problems and provide real-time feedback. This way, students don’t need to go through entire lessons only to realize at the end that they’ve been doing a problem incorrectly.
Like any other type of tutoring, online tutoring can be beneficial for students of all ages. Here are some of the situations where online tutoring might help.
Students are often known for putting off their homework, but some may also be procrastinating because they find the material to be too challenging. With online tutoring sessions, a tutor can help these students stay on track and ensure that they’re not struggling with skills and concepts.
Between keeping up with academics, juggling extracurricular commitments, preparing for college applications, and managing interpersonal relationships, high school can put a lot of pressure on any student, let alone one struggling in their math classes. Working one-on-one with an online tutor can allow these students to take the time to fully understand the material.
Since the pandemic began, more parents have opted to homeschool their children. While this can help students thrive, homeschooling can also present its own set of challenges, including supplementing instruction with subject-specific help. Online tutoring can help families find experienced tutors to provide the support that these students need.
English learners face the challenge of learning a new language in addition to their other coursework, and studies show that their learning has been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. With online tutoring, these students can benefit from one-on-one time with a tutor—especially if they have experience working with English learners—to get any additional support they need.
As a parent, it’s important to keep in mind that online tutoring isn’t just occasional homework help or “spot tutoring” to get your child unstuck—it can be an investment that pays off in the long run. With that in mind, consider looking for an online tutor who is:
Online tutoring can be a viable and beneficial option for students who are struggling in school or need to catch up. Studies show that online tutoring can be just as effective as in-person tutoring, especially in an ongoing capacity, but is often more affordable, accessible, and convenient.
At Remind Tutoring, our tutors are highly qualified, rigorously vetted, and work closely with students to create a learning environment that’s both engaging and supportive. If you’re looking for an online tutoring service you can rely on to help your child not only catch up but thrive, contact us today to get started!
