How to Tutor Online: Everything You Need to Know
Invest in these 4 basics
When putting together your home based classroom it's important to not only create a space that is comfortable for you, but one that your students can see and hear clearly in.
Investing in a good quality camera with a ring light attached to it will help ensure that your students can see you clearly, no matter what the lighting is like outside or in the room you are working in. You can even buy one that clips right onto your computer.
A set of good quality headphones with an integrated microphone will ensure that your students can hear you clearly, and that there is minimal sound feedback or echo.
Flashcards with hand-drawn pictures of key terms or topics are useful for students of all ages, and you are only limited by your creativity! Are your students always forgetting to turn the microphone on (or off)? Then make a card with a little drawing of a microphone to quickly remind them.
Last but not least, a few creative props can add a lot to your student's experience in the classroom. A simple piece of festive fabric hanging on the wall behind you provides an engaging backdrop for your class — and it can be replaced seasonally.
Choose a topic you love and prepare, prepare, prepare
Transmission of knowledge has as much to do with the teacher´s knowledge as their passion for the topic. Are you an expert in Chemistry but find your true calling in picking apart the nuances of Shakespeare and Proust? Consider teaching both!
Teaching a subject involves not only class time, but also time preparing original and dynamic content for your students. Choosing a subject that you are both good at and love can even help you to expand your own knowledge of the subject. Not to mention, this passion can help a student learn to love a subject they were previously uncomfortable with.
Connect with other tutors in your physical area or area of expertise
One of the perks of tutoring online is that you get to spend the time you might have spent commuting dedicated to your other hobbies or interests. One of the downfalls is that it can get lonely and there are seldom opportunities to connect with other professionals.
Make sure to get connected with other tutors in your area via LinkedIn, Facebook social groups, or even pub quiz nights in your area. If in person socialising options are limited in your area (or they aren’t your thing) there are lots of opportunities to connect with other tutors online. Here you can trade tips, stories and build a like-minded community.
Get your resources organised
If you have been teaching a subject for a while, you might notice that you use the same materials week after week for your students. Make sure you have these materials organised so they are easily accessible to you, and easy to send to your students.
For easy access, upload all your resources onto a Google Drive or Dropbox account where you can share them with students. Don’t forget to make sure they have easy access to the materials that will help them succeed!
Make sure your students can track their progress
It's easy for students to get frustrated if they don't feel like they are making progress. An easy way to combat this is to make a small note of the students’ strengths, weaknesses and daily triumphs.
For example, if on day 30 the student feels they haven't made enough progress, you can simply refer back to the ´weakness´ point they faced on day one. It is more than likely they will have overcome that area of weakness and will just need a friendly reminder!
Tracking small changes is helpful if a student's parent contacts you for an update on their child's progress. While it might be hard to instantly recall the detailed ways in which they improved, these daily notes can help give a full picture of their child’s growth and development!
Always have a backup plan
Everyone gets sick, has an emergency or just plain needs a mental health day from time to time. At times like these, it's helpful to have teamed up beforehand with another professional that you trust to take over your class in case you cannot make it.
Make sure that your student knows beforehand about your absence and who will substitute for you. Mutual support like this can make freelance work go much smoother and can bolster your reputation as a reliable tutor.
Expand your skills and knowledge
Teachers are renowned for their dedication to their craft. They know that following the latest trends or findings in their field, is as important as staying up to date on the latest teaching software.
Signing up for free online courses, trade journals and message boards are all affordable ways to stay informed of changes and innovations happening in your field. This means you keep up with the current on best teaching practices and teaching platforms.
