Interactive Online Tutoring Services

I have updated my website. I added another demonstration, changed the text somewhat and added a letter of recommendation. I have described my teaching method and updated the pricing tab to include the new charges for offline work.

It looks like I may have an adult student from Toronto. He is interested in taking engineering in university but needs to learn calculus, physics and some civil engineering. He has sent me two electronic books on calculus and I selected the best one for us to be working from. I suggested he go through the first chapter and attempt some of the problems on functions, before I teach him about limits and  the derivative.

He has a lot of the equipment he will need already including a writing pad and a scanner. So I think we will have no problem communicating. I am looking forward to meeting him online.

He had no problem with my charging for offline work.  I think this is a good way to work. He sends me his attempt at some problems, then I work on them offline, then we meet online and I address his concerns. This way he will learn more if he makes an attempt at the problems, rather than me going over the solutions.

In the past, adults who took advantage of distance education programs were referred to as non-traditional students. Today this term no longer applies, because distance education is part of most college and university programs to meet demand. Every year more and more degree programs are being offered for those who want to continue their education.

Individual Advantages of Distance Education
The advantages for individuals in this education alternative method for learning for adults include:

•Courses for those with time limitations for various reasons.
•Flexibility to study in any convenient location with an Internet connection.
•More opportunities to study the most current material available.
•Flexibility for those with irregular work schedules.
•Study materials at own speed, without having to wait for slower pace of the average classroom or being overwhelmed in fast paced classroom.
•Those with physical challenges which prevent attendance.

Technology Advantages of Distance Education

Many adults, when thinking about enrolling in distance education, wonder if they will receive the same level of teaching and learning opportunities as traditional education. The answer is yes, because course requirements are not reduced and they have plenty of opportunity to interact with their instructor. Communication is typically accomplished through the use of a range of technological options, all of which take advantage of anyone’s specific situation, such as:

•Voice – audio tools include the interactive technologies of telephone and video/audio conferencing (one-way or two-way video with two-way audio).
•Video – video tools include still images, pre-produced videos (film and videotape), and real-time videos combined with audio conferencing.
•Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI) – uses computers as a teaching tool to present individual lessons.
•Computer-Managed Instruction (CMI) – uses computers to organize and deliver instruction using the Internet has the prime method of delivery.
•E-mail
•Fax
•Real-time computer conferencing
•Internet applications
•Web-based resources such as online textbooks, study guides, workbooks, syllabi, case studies, reading resources, and more.

By Ron and Susan Zemke
Innovation Abstracts Vol VI, No 8, March 9, 1984

It is going well with my student from Belgium. He is getting 92% now!

In order to improve the audio we removed the video component. Now we can communicate much better.

I Just had three successful online tutoring sessions with a student from Belgium. He is a Canadian taking an online course and needs some extra help with grade 11 math.

At first I used the online chat feature of the software I am using to communicate. We then tried to connect with audio, but it turned out his bandwidth was too small. He changed from wireless and that seemed to solve the audio problem. Now we are communicating in audio, I am using the whiteboard to write to him. He has tried writing to me with his mouse, and it works okay-but I suggested he might get a tablet so that he could write to me more easily.

I like being able to display files using the whiteboard one of the supported files is pdf, which is quite common I suppose. My scanner will save a document in this format so it makes it more useful to me.

The teaching is going well I think he is able to understand what I am explaining to him and the time seems to go by fast for both of us. I will see him online again on Wednesday May 27th.

The Benefits of Tutoring Online

July 14, 2008 – 9:29 am by GlobalScholar

Online tutoring started in the late 90s and has quickly expanded since then. Some remain skeptical of online learning and claim that it is less effective than face-to-face instruction. I admit, change can be a scary thing, but evolution is what makes the world live on, and often works out for the better.

Below I have compiled a list of the benefits of tutoring online.

 Saves time and money
Tutoring online will save you time and money commuting, since you can have the session from the comfort of your home. You can prepare for a session in 5 minutes and stay in your pajamas and slippers.

 Online tutoring costs are usually 30-40% less than face-to-face
Since tutors can accommodate a higher volume of students through online tutoring, they often charge less for their sessions. They also get to cut transportation out the equation and can send files and resources electronically for free.

 Easy access to subject specialists
Online tutoring also allows you to hire multiple tutors in different disciplines all from the same place, cutting out the hassle of going from agency to agency.

 Instant trouble-shooting – get help right away, when you need it
Say you need help with a complex math problem in advanced calculus, it is 10pm on a Tuesday night, you live in a remote farming community and you need to know how to solve it for your test the next day. Easy, connect with a tutor online anywhere in the country at any time. This is where online tutoring takes the cake and face-to-face tutoring just can’t compete.

 Security
The safety of online tutoring is far superior to that of face-to-face. First of all, no tutors have to come to your house and your children don’t have to travel from home to receive tutoring. No personal information needs to be exchanged and money transactions take place through a safe, encrypted connection.

 Great for shy students
Most children are shy about their tutoring needs and usually aren’t too eager to ask for help. Online tutoring makes it easier for shy children to asks questions and engage more in the conversation. That allows for more open channels of discussion and promotes and comfortable learning environment.

So there you have it, a list of reasons to try online tutoring. The only real difference between online and face-to-face tutoring is the medium. With the use of voice over Internet protocol, verbal communication is possible online. Pair that with file sharing abilities, interactive whiteboards and messaging and you’ve got the same abilities as you do face-to-face.

Motivation and Learning

How Do I Motivate Students?

As a teacher, it is essential that you keep your students motivated. Tutors have also been through the educational system as pupils and know the importance of an enjoyable and rewarding educational experience. You may have known this all your life, or it may have become clearer later, when you started tutoring. Regardless of your own experience, motivating your students will always be one of your most important targets.

All students show improved motivation when they understand the reason why they are doing something, especially if they can see a direct positive outcome from studying. It is sometimes important for students to see the bigger picture. If a student must study a topic which he/she finds difficult, for instance to achieve a career aspiration, it can be a good idea to highlight the direct applications and pragmatic uses of this subject in a future professional context. Not everyone likes to study for the sake of studying; often, allowing students to see direct benefits motivates them to study. This provides a positive feed back and sets a goal; the more they understand, the more they can see the benefits, the more they want to learn.

It might not be so straight forward with younger students, as they may not have a specific idea of what they want to do later on in life. This being said, personalities form themselves very early on, and it can be a good idea to show the benefits of studying certain subjects. Let them know early, no matter what job they aspire to do, almost all jobs will make you sit some sort of entrance exams, usually covering some basic mathematics and English skills. Many subjects overlap, doctors need to be good with sciences, scientists need a good foundation in Maths, Biologist need a good understanding of statistics, a professional translator really requires more than just two languages, Computer related jobs often requires good mathematics and logic skills). For younger students, immediate benefits, and short term goals provide a much better motivation mechanism. Fun, games, and laughter often work as good tools for teaching children; however they are never wasted on adults!

Motivation and Relevance

Studying has to be relevant to be motivating; creating this relevant link is part of the tutor’s job. Think of a student finding maths de-motivating because it’s “too hard” or “it’s useless in real life”. Yet at lunch time, he likes to go to the gambling shop and places a few bets. He works out the odds in just a few seconds, yet when it comes to doing percentages and fraction in lessons, he fails miserably. The problem is not that this student finds maths “too hard”, but rather that he cannot see the relevance and thus finds it boring. A bored mind is easily distracted, and a distracted mind finds everything hard: have you ever tried to read a book and watch the TV at the same time? It’s not easy, and the activity that requires the least effort but most fun is usually easier to focus on and understand. So try and adapt your lessons to be as relevant as possible to each pupil. Make your tuition easy to understand, and make it enjoyable.

Motivation and Terminology

Many academic subjects use a terminology: although there’s often no need to use complex words to understand these subjects, specific keywords are usually required by examiners. Academics within their own field often like to make things seem more complicated than they actually are, although this is not always compatible with good teaching practice. Try not to confuse new pupils straight away by throwing in too many complicated words; you are there to pass on your knowledge, not to show it off, however tempting it can be to “sound competent”. As the subject becomes more familiar, you can then link the concepts to the terminology required by the examiners. Later, show that the use of these keywords is important when answering exam papers, and indicates through example what the examiners are expecting.

– Understanding 1st makes it easy to learn,

– Making it easy to learn makes it enjoyable,

– Enjoyable lessons are motivational

– Motivational lessons make the pupils want to learn further

Avoid De-Motivation

There is nothing more de-motivating than consistently being incorrect and failing at a subject. Avoid anything that can negatively affect the learning process. If your student is giving incorrect answers, it is best to avoid asking them similar questions or insisting heavily on a topic which they are likely to get wrong. You can make the questions slightly easier and lead them in the right direction by giving them clues. It is also a good indication on what topics need more work. These measures will have a more positive effect on your students that anything that will highlight their failure.

One of the more overwhelming challenges is that faced by a parent that wishes to take on practical home schooling, but doesn’t have a partner. For many in this situation, the requirement to earn adequate income to support both child and parent is vital.

But many single parents that are determined are able to find ways each year to home educate their children. The final results are typically worthwhile. A home tutored child will typically surpass their equals on similar tests and have a high rating on college admissions listings.

The initial issue is often related to time management. A well prepared parent soon discovers that they have more available time for practical home schooling than they might expect. That is typically true if you account for the actual tuition hours offered in a public school. In a school day, there’s a break between classes, lunch breaks, and a good deal of sitting about not doing much. By being certain that each hour counts at home can easily compensate.

A child can be left completely free to act on any topic that interests them, and at their individual pace. Or, they might be offered with guidance and resources to execute a great deal of individual study. The answers can be reviewed later on in the day and alterations made, if required.

Tutoring in a variety of styles is one more choice for a single parent that wishes to home school. Tutors can range from an in-house instructor to an online resource that’s entirely automated. The costs are likely to vary greatly, but a lot of tutors tend to cost less than full time day care. In some cases, a tutoring role can be combined with day care service.

Some single parents will opt to begin a home based business. Once you add up the expense of gasoline for the vehicle, full time day care, and the time spent on travelling back and forth, a home based business can often appear more cost effective. This does not even take into account the potential tax savings from additional write-offs.

With a small amount of creative thinking and fair measure of research, a single parent can discover the resources and time for practical home schooling their child. Both child and parent are likely to benefit significantly if they do.