Getting support from online tutors and their services, whether it be for English, maths, French or science (physics, biology, or chemistry) does the best job of enhancing education.
But we really need to examine the practice as a whole and think about the alternatives.
Those who are in the early years of primary school, in high school, year 11 or year 12, doing a university bachelor's, or who are simply interested in working with a tutor to enhance career skills, will find that contact with the services of a private teacher across any level of study or location in Australia will be of service.
In any location in Australia, there are many academic-focused tutoring options for schools and university students as well as employed individuals. But what if you want to learn online and simply know that you're a face-to-face student at heart?
Covid has made the world rethink the way we approach education. As such, this guide simply seeks to elucidate some of the realities of learning online, rather than simply touting the benefits so that students and schools in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, or anywhere else in Australia can get some peace of mind.
Technology Troubles
When comparing humans and technology, we often think of people as infallible and not vice versa.
Despite overall mistrust of online learning and its role in commodifying education and the job market, it is here to stay and any sceptic will be able to find time and ways to help themselves understand how they can work with it.
Wifi and broadband connection is something everyone takes into account, so tutors and their services must do likewise when considering how to offer the best support as a tutor and when advancing in their tutoring career.
Naysayers pin their principal mistrust of the contact between technology and education on the potential pitfalls of using the internet itself: connectivity issues. Of course, engineering and IT advances mean that these issues are semi-frequent but not dire, but imagine if you're in Sydney or Melbourne and your tutor in Brisbane or Perth suddenly drops out and you don't hear the instruction? The lesson is for naught.
What's more, National Broadband Network issues have been rife across Australia since the beginning of the speculative study for it, not to mention the rollout of the program. So to play devil's advocate, there is this side of things to consider.
There is also the equipment question. Are you going to have the right stuff in your home? Is there sufficient room and the correct space to learn in? Is it going to be expensive to have to buy these things?
Typically in a classroom, the teacher or school would offer this, and with tutors, part of their private services is to offer the extra resources you don't have access to. Perhaps then, this is a stumbling block that should be considered.
Another hurdle is collaborative issues. Given that the tutor won't be in the same room, connectivity might mean that efficient modelling by the teacher can't take place. Imagine if you're not experienced with online teaching and you only know how to show a maths diagram with a theorem like that of Pythagoras for example.
If your internet cuts out or you have to wrangle with cords then check whether or not your student has understood or not, there may be many pitfalls when it comes to seeing proof of their learning.
Don't let this negativity change your mind instantly - there are many significant pros of online learning.
Payment Via the Web for Your Tutor
Whereas cash used to be the only option, all changing hands of money now also take place online. A child doesn't have to be involved in the process at all, and parents or teachers can do everything via PayPal, Transferwise, or even just a bank transfer.
Take into account then the issue of the money getting lost or not transferred, or the system getting hacked. Whilst this is not highly likely and is true of any financial service, it now comes into play when thinking of tutoring as well.
Overall, this ease might actually be a pro, but in the long run, it may mean that tutors end up being paid less due to transfer and bank fees, and perceived lower overheads which mean clients are less willing to pay premiums.
Online tutoring is nevertheless really taking off in Australia, with students in Brisbane and Sydney able to contact and learn with a private tutor or tutors in Melbourne or Perth. Find out how and why this is happening.
Difficulties of Online Tutoring
Just imagine trying to sit a primary school student down in front of a computer for the same length of time as a lesson in a classroom. For one, as we discovered the hard way with virtual learning, there are too many temptations and a child cannot focus here the way they normally would.
There is no one to monitor them per se, and if the class is not being delivered by a dedicated teacher, then it falls to the parents. If this is the case, there is the added stress of making their children learn, and without a teacher to bounce energy off, it can become very complicated.
Kids can easily get distracted and fidgety this way since this version of school doesn't seem real. Even for older students, it was difficult since the presence of the teacher in the class was more difficult to officiate and they could not feel the pressure to learn that they would when surrounded by their peers.
Online tutoring should in theory provide an answer to this since it involves students' supplemental learning in a personalised way. This could thus be a means of balancing learning when it all takes place online.
And those who are in year 11 or year 12, or even doing their bachelor's online; private tutors can be the ones who keep them focused when so much of the learning is actually independent. Thus it is important to take into account the learning program taking place when working out the function of the tutor and the delivery of their support and teaching.
Some people out there may need even more convincing for online learning, which is why we have written a guide to convince them to try it.
Caveats in Learning Online
Forming a bond and trust with students from the beginning is very important. If you're just a face behind a screen, this can be quite difficult.
Visual and verbal cues that students, particularly primary school students, can play off in a classroom are lacking in an online tutoring session, which can sometimes make it hard for them to contextualise your role in their learning. Connection issues might make it hard for them to read your facial expressions and body language too, so they may struggle with the interpersonal side of things.
Going to school is an essential pillar in forming a routine and socialising students into good ways of learning and behaviour. Given all the inherent issues of learning online and in private in the ways we've already mentioned, there can be several essential steps that are missed that are hard to make up for later on a human-to-human level.
Let's do away with this negativity and see what researchers say about the pros of online learning.
Ensuring the Best Possible Online Learning Experience
Finding a tutor with great experience can really be the best way to get around these cons that we've mentioned. Moreover, experienced tutors will know how to innovate to make sure your education is up to scratch.
In fact, thanks to the powers of the world wide web, finding experienced tutors all across Australia and the world, in major subjects like French, English, maths, science, physics, chemistry, biology, engineering - and many more - is easier than ever.
A service like Superprof lets you check the credentials and experience of the tutor or private tutors whose services or services you want to engage. This means that there is actually more agency now from the side of the student when choosing how they want to complement their own learning.
These steps will facilitate the process of contact with an online tutor and will ensure the best working experience together:
- Keep your technology up to date, including routers and software updates
- Make sure your tutor is vetted with a site like Superprof (who does this for you!)
- Check that your tutor has up-to-date technological capabilities
- Communicate your learning and teaching expectations for you and your child
- State the purpose of the need for private tutoring services
- Parents should make sure that they do their best to ensure an optimum learning environment
- Regularly evaluate the progress of the student
- Seek feedback from the tutor on the progress of the learner
A tutoring agency will often fill in these gaps for you, but they're good to keep in mind so that you can get the best from your online tutoring services!
For those still curious about the benefits of online learning, explore the positive proof that online learning works.
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