Becoming an online tutor

There has never been a greater demand for online tuition. With schools across much of the world closed, and with lockdown procedures in place, face to face tuition is no longer a feasible option. Thanks to the ubiquity of computers, tablets, and smartphones, all of which now possess in built cameras and microphones, online tuition will give you an opportunity teach students from across the globe.

If you are an experienced tutor, accustomed to giving face to face lessons, you may be apprehensive and unsure as to whether your teaching abilities will translate to the computer screen. How exactly will you conduct a lesson just using a web cam and a computer screen? How will you set questions for your student, and be able to check their answers?

The most important thing to keep in mind is that, whether online or face to face, you will still be providing the same service. You will be helping a student acquire greater knowledge and proficiency in a subject. If you are already an experienced tutor you are already well on the way to becoming a great online tutor. There is nothing fundamentally different about the two forms of teaching.

Though you certainly don`t need to be an IT whizz to be an online tutor, it will certainly help if you already possess a degree of familiarity with computers. It is probable that your previous work as a face to face tutor involved at least some IT usage, be it corresponding via email, or using certain web based applications. Since almost all computers now have built in web cams, the task is rendered far easier that it was only a few years ago, when you might have had to purchase an external camera, and ensure it was properly synced with your computer. With everything fully integrated these days setting up and conducting your lessons is a far less onerous task.

Tutor Hunt uses its own video and audio software, a system we have utilised for many years, and found to be both reliable and user friendly. Some of our tutors are already familiar with Skype, or other telecommunication applications, and we encourage you to use whatever programme you wish. If you are planning to use a platform outside of Tutor Hunt, it will be best to communicate this with your student, so they can download the relevant software. All video applications will permit you to test your microphone and camera, allowing you to be sure everything is working before the lesson begins.

We have also developed an online whiteboard, which you will find to be an invaluable teaching aid. This whiteboard works like a basic graphics editor, such as adobe photoshop, though it is far easier to use. During a lesson you can draw or type on the whiteboard, with the student seeing your actions in real time. For mathematics or science subjects, the ability to draw a diagram, or write an equation, can be extremely helpful. The whiteboard also allows you to upload documents or images during the lesson, or write out any text for the student to see.

As with face to face tuition, it is recommended that you plan your lesson in advance. For the initial class it might be best if you appraise the current level of student`s understanding of the subject. If they are a school or university pupil you may want to acquire a copy of their syllabus, so you can see the full list of the topics they will be studying.

You should choose an appropriate viewing angle for the online lesson. This means you should attempt to ensure the student will have a clear and uncluttered view of the lesson you will be presenting. It may be distracting if family members or friends can be seen coming and going in the background. You should also be attentive to lighting conditions: a bright source of light shining directly behind you may overexpose the camera, and render you little more than a silhouette on the screen. These matters can easily be checked in advance, simply by practicing with the video software, so you can see yourself on the screen.

You will be surprised at just how quickly you will become accustomed to giving online lessons, and may well plan to continue giving them once lockdown restrictions are lifted. They have the benefits of negating the need for travel, while allowing students from all over the world to benefit from your tuition.