How to Be a Successful Online Tutor

With a quarter of parents having hired a traditional tutor for their children at some point, there is huge potential demand for online tutoring. Although what is going to set you apart online that a tutor cannot do face to face? Well for a start to be a successful tutor you have to be prepared to work at any time of the day or night, you will have to fully commit to provide the student the best education around. Children who sign up with e-tutors watch live broadcasts using video-conferencing or Skype, an on-line telephone/video service. The interactive technology allows students to hear and see their teacher, and to ask questions, while both use a “whiteboard”, like a shared blackboard. With most online tutors charging £15-£27, you are a cheaper option than the traditional tutor and parents are always attracted to cheaper prices, but they also want quality, this is where you come in. If you are teaching a subject you have not got much knowledge on then simply, cook it, plate it up and digest it as quickly as possible.

One of the keys to online tutoring is, not necessarily knowing the answers; but being able to find them quickly and easily. Being a good researcher is key! This will enable you to teach the students to find their own answers as you guide them through different articles. So, do not fret if you don't remember why World War I began - you are not expected to be Encyclopedia Britannica, but, if you can find an article on the reasons quickly, you are one step closer to being a good online tutor.

Becoming a popular online tutor (one requested by the students) takes time and good judgement. The time you spend watching your inbox to jump on open hours is consuming; but once you have a set schedule you are happy with, that time will pay off and you can focus solely on your permanent students. As far as good judgment, this can be a tricky line to walk. Students enjoy talking and getting a tutor' s background or insight into personal issues. A good online tutor can quickly and smoothly re-direct the student back to the work at hand. Tutors are educators, not peers. But, be sure that you do not make the student feel embarrassed or put down for asking questions.

Online Learning Tips

More and more students are leaving the classroom to learn their preferred subjects from the comfort of their own home. Learning online can be a patient or fast paced process, with the option to plough through a course or to simply take it as it comes, working at your own pace and working essentially when you want to fit around your other commitments. Since, online learning relies heavily upon internet and communication technology developing proper skills of communication and the technologies used to deliver online learning is essential. Given that the classes are held over a virtual setting, only proper interaction can help you fight the odds of not being in a traditional classroom. Furthermore, obtaining success through the flexible mode of online learning also relies upon effective time management skills that allow a better balance between studies and other commitments. In order to make learning online a true success the pupil has to be fully committed to the course. 

Although not as strict as a course at school, college or university, the pupil will have to engage with the tutor and the material in order to benefit from learning online. By regularly checking comments from your tutor and working on their feedback, it will ensure you are truly gaining something from the experience. You have to be serious about online education if you wish to succeed, although the slacker approach may appeal to some students, to reel in the advantages of an online education the student has to take the course seriously and it will lead to a path of success. Online study is challenging. It requires self-motivation and self-belief. Success also relies on your ability to know when you've done a good job. Don't forget to reward yourself when you achieve something. Whether it's a chocolate, cup of tea, cigarette or even a beer, at the end of each 4-hour study period or a weekend away at the end of each year completed, giving yourself rewards provides motivation, allowing you to feel like you have deserved the item. It also gives you time to reflect on your achievements.