Choose the right tools
One of the most important aspects of online tutoring is choosing the right tools to communicate and collaborate with your student. You will need a reliable internet connection, a device with a camera and microphone, and a platform to conduct your lesson. Luckly for you, as a Lucid Study tutor, you don't have to download or install additional software to conduct your lessons. Lucid Study has in-built virtual classroom that you can use without leaving the platform. It provides audio and video collaboration, screen sharing, speaker recognition, raising hand and a whiteboard.
By using the inbuilt virtual classroom functionality, you eliminate the friction likely caused by difference in tools preferences that you may have with your students or among the student booked for a group lesson. Not to mention reducing cost
Plan your lesson
Another key factor for a successful online tutoring lesson is planning. You should have a clear idea of what you want to achieve, what you want to teach, and how you want to teach it. You should also consider the following questions:
- What is your student’s level, goal, and learning style?
- What are the learning objectives and outcomes of the lesson?
- What are the materials and resources you will use?
- What are the activities and tasks you will assign?
- How will you assess your student’s progress and provide feedback?
You should prepare your lesson plan in advance and share it with your student before the lesson. This will help you both to have a common understanding of what to expect and what to prepare.
Create a rapport
One of the biggest challenges of online tutoring is creating a rapport with your student. Rapport is the relationship of trust, respect, and mutual understanding that you build with your student. It can have a positive impact on your student’s motivation, engagement, and learning outcomes. To create a rapport with your online student, you should:
- Introduce yourself and get to know your student. You can ask them about their background, interests, hobbies, and goals.
- Be friendly, positive, and supportive. You can use humor, praise, and encouragement to create a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.
- Be attentive and empathetic. You can use active listening, eye contact, and body language to show your interest and care.
- Be flexible and adaptable. You can adjust your pace, style, and content according to your student’s needs and feedback.
Review and reflect
After your first online tutoring lesson, you should review and reflect on how it went. You should ask yourself and your student the following questions:
- What went well and what did not?
- What did you and your student learn and achieve?
- What were the challenges and difficulties you faced?
- What can you improve and change for the next lesson?
You should also ask your student for feedback and suggestions on how to make your online tutoring sessions more effective and enjoyable. You should also thank your student for their time and effort, and express your enthusiasm for the next lesson.
Try to avoid these common mistakes :
- Talking too much or too fast, which can overwhelm or bore the student. A good online tutor should balance the amount of talking and listening, and give the student enough time and space to think, ask questions, and participate
- Working in a distracting environment, which can affect the quality and professionalism of the lesson. A good online tutor should ensure that their tutoring space is quiet, private, and well-lit, and that their equipment is reliable and functional
- Lacking real connection with the student, which can reduce the student’s motivation and engagement. A good online tutor should build rapport, understand the student’s learning style and needs, and use interactive tools and features to create a sense of virtual camaraderie and support
- Failing to plan and review the lesson, which can lead to confusion and inefficiency. A good online tutor should have a clear lesson plan and share it with the student before the lesson, and also ask for feedback and reflect on the lesson after the lesson
Conclusion
Online tutoring can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience for both you and your student. However, it also requires careful preparation and planning, as well as good communication and rapport skills. By following the advice and tips in this blog post, you can make your first online tutoring lesson a success and start your online tutoring journey on the right foot. Good luck and happy tutoring!