29th August 2016 1:00
By Blue Tutors
Tutoring is one of the oldest professions, and is often seen as a very personal interaction, rooted in face to face teaching, however the industry is increasingly moving online. From tutors advertising and web based agencies to skype tutoring sessions, private tuition is how firmly places in the long list of industries being revolutionised by the internet. What does this mean for students and tutors?
Online tuition has become a truly international phenomenon, with dedicated web or app based services pairing tutors and students in countries including China, Egypt and Nigeria. From short chat-based answers to specific homework questions, to ongoing learning via video chat software, the e-tutor revolution has been entirely enabled by technology. It was previously difficult to imagine online tuition as the technological support simply wasn’t there, however the internet, smartphone, video calling and ability to instantly share pictures makes remote tuition arguably as interactive as face-to-face. Now, with the market for tutoring steadily growing, an increasing number of technologies are now being designed specifically for this market, including an increase in interactive whiteboard software.
Online tuition has opened up the market for both tutors and students, allowing more to benefit from private tuition with a greater choice of teachers. There is much greater flexibility in how and where lessons can be conducted, and how parents can choose tutors. Gone are the days of looking through newspaper averts and newsagent window cards. The convenience of learning and teaching from anywhere, with no travel time for students or travel expenses for tutor coming to home to factor in, should enable more to benefit; however, many argue that the socioeconomic inequality of private tutoring are just as present in the digital market, so it does not significant increase access to education in the way it is said to. There are also many parents who are still reluctant to use online tutoring, as there is a feeling that it is less effective than tutoring in person. There is increasing evidence to dispel that myth, however it does points to a strong subject dependence in the efficacy of online tuition. Topics like language practice are well suited to online tuition, whereas subjects like geometry and algebra, are more difficult to convey in words and therefore do not lend themselves to online tuition as readily.
The largest market for online tuition at the moment is for older students: A level, degree and adult learning. This is thought to be as they are already able to work more independently, and are more technology literate and comfortable with virtual learning environments. While some see the need for students to acquire technology skills in order to make the most of online tutoring as a drawback, an increasing amount of school and university tuition is moving online, making familiarity with e-learning a useful skill in itself as well as the value of technology fluency itself. Online tuition also makes it easy to incorporate ongoing assessment and testing to ensure that tutoring is target to the individual student; tutors can use online database of questions, access to past papers and marks schemes. Finally, one if its most valuable pedagogic feature is the possibility to record and save sessions and information digitally to access at a later date.
Finally, as well as more choice, online tuition is seen as some by a safer option that tutoring in person, avoiding direct contact between tutors and students, however it is still critically important to ensure that tutors are vetted whatever the form of tuition. Earlier this year parents in the UK were advised to find tutors through reputable agencies who can request a DBS check. With the abundance of tutors online, it is as important as ever to remember to put child safety first.