The rise and rise of online tutoring
Type in “online tuition – maths or reading” into any search engine and pages of suggested sites will pop up. So, what is online tuition and why is it becoming so popular?
There are several different styles of online tuition models, in literacy and numeracy, including;
- Self -directed learning programmes offering a series of exercises for the child to complete, with multiple choice answers and no tutor assistance.
- Homework help programmes where a child can receive help, via messaging or webcam with a teacher or university student, with any homework issues.
- Structured programmes to address any learning difficulties or specific goal, via web cam, with a trained teacher.
As the demand for online tuition increases, the method of delivery for these lessons is evolving as quickly as the technology and in ways we may not even imagine yet. One thing will remain constant; the most successful methods, especially in terms of outcomes, do, and will, recognise that creating a professional and caring connection between students and teachers is essential to learning. A great tutor can not only improve academic results but increase a student’s motivation, desire and passion to learn, both in a centre and online.
This ability of the tutor to engage their students has been the cornerstone of the success of many tuition centres for decades. There is no doubt that tuition centres will remain an essential part of our communities for a very long time yet.
Yet for many students and parents, physically attending a centre is not an option, and for too long they have not had access to tutoring or have had to choose an online model which has does no work for their child.
Who benefits from the rise of online tuition?
There are so many benefits, but here are the more frequent ones.
- Busy and stressed parents
- wanting to avoid heavy traffic.
- trying to timetable multiple after school activities for more than one child.
- trying to maintain normality during a long illness or recovery from injury
- Shy children or adults who are worried about others finding out that they have a tutor.
- Adults wishing to improve literacy to be able to attend further education courses
- Families who live too far away from a tutor to attend regular lessons.
- Families taking extended holidays travelling – either interstate or overseas.
- Children, or adult learners, who are carers for their parents or siblings and have little chance to leave the home on a regular basis.
- Students who work best late at night, or early in the morning, when most tuition centres are closed.
- Students from separated families, where maintaining routines can be a challenge.
- Teachers wanting to have more flexibility while their children are young or to care for a family member.
The rise of online tuition addresses this imbalance by increasing the ease of access to quality tuition to many more students and families. It is a provision that is set to continue to experience a rise in popularity!
To read our review on the Kip McGrath assessment process, click here.
Written by Nelinda and Marcelo Vega at the Sunnybank and Loganholme Kip McGrath Tuition centres.
This article was published in Issue 11 of our print magazine, August/September 2015.
