Online tutoring has emerged as an invaluable tool for helping young students achieve academic success. As noted by Gortazar, Hupkao, and Roldan-Mones for example, online tutoring has enabled kids to review topics with close, personal guidance, providing them an opportunity to build upon their knowledge outside class. With online classes, a student also has the liberty to tailor their learning process: to choose from a vast selection of tutors and select the one that they think fits best to their learning style and character and arrange a schedule according to their pace.
Still, many misconceptions surround the image of online education. If you’re a parent, you may have especially come across some of these ideas. You may have heard that e-learning could be less effective than in-person; that it may only be for struggling students; or that it’s too expensive. Don’t worry – these are real, valid concerns, and in this article, we’ll be exploring each of these and more. This way, we can help you clarify the reality behind these misunderstandings, show you the truth in online tutoring, and allow you to fully embrace the potential benefits it could bring to your child.
Is online tutoring only for struggling students?
Most of the time, there’s still an underlying assumption of most parents that online tutoring is only for students who are struggling academically or need remedial help. But in this modern age, it’s not simply true anymore!
This misconception overlooks just how versatile online education has become. Some students like to arrange online tutoring sessions because they’re interested in preparing for a class in advance. Others work with online tutors in guided reading classes, where a course expert could guide them in navigating complex texts. Online tutoring has also found much use in homework help, standardized test preparation, academic competition training, essay proofreading, as well as university admissions support. It serves as an excellent resource for unique, challenging academic cases that can’t be resolved by a typical class setup. So, if your child is in a very particular academic situation – for example, they want to prepare for a competition, or they want to score high in a standardized test – online tutoring can be an invaluable tool, even if they’re not struggling.
Is online tutoring less effective than in-person tutoring?
The idea that online tutoring is less impactful than in-person teaching is a very prevalent misconception among parents as well. Many believe that face-to-face interaction is crucial for effective learning, and so online learning is viewed as something ‘lesser than’.
This couldn’t be farther from the truth. The virtual environment does not really diminish personal interaction. One-on-one online tutoring sometimes even makes the learning experience more personalized in the way it allows for closer, less restrictive student-tutor interactions. You, as a parent, can find a private tutor that can work well and build rapport with your student. Since the barriers of a large class are removed, the tutor is also able to easily refine and adjust their technique according to your child’s learning style. And because your student is the only focus of the class, they are given wider liberty and independence to review topics as they see fit, ask questions without judgment, and develop their strengths!
Does online tutoring lack personal connection?
Another worry of parents regarding online tutoring is that it lacks that personal connection often established in a traditional tutoring setting. You may be thinking that your child will not form a meaningful relationship with their tutor. This is a valid concern, as rapport can be integral to a child’s learning enthusiasm.
Still, many online tutoring platforms have already considered this as well. These platforms emphasize developing a strong rapport between tutors and students; often, they even take the time to screen their tutors to ensure that the teacher is competently charismatic enough to lead a one-on-one session. They also encourage tutors to make extra efforts to connect with students by engaging in their interests, setting personalized goals, and encouraging the student. All these can help build a close connection between the tutor and your student, even in a virtual, long-distance setting.
Is online tutoring too expensive?
Actually, in this modern age, not anymore! Cost is understandably another factor that you may worry about when considering online tutoring. However, the reality is that online tutoring platforms already offer flexible pricing options compared to traditional tutoring. Many agencies provide a range of packages and payment plans that can suit different budgets. There are even more personalized services, where you’re given the freedom to arrange online classes according to your child’s needs, schedule, and goals. In addition, online tutoring can help you as a parent save on commuting costs and time, making it a more economical choice in the long run. Overall, you can think of online tutoring as an investment opportunity for your child: a valuable, effective expenditure that can lead to long-term academic success with minimal costs.
Do technology issues disrupt learning?
You may also worry that technical issues, like poor internet connection or software glitches, can be a hindrance to your child’s learning. While it’s true that technology is not without its challenges, most online tutoring platforms nowadays are already designed to be user-friendly and reliable. Bug-tested to perfection, they’re developed to withstand loading errors and to have a seamless interface. They also already often have technical support teams on standby and available help centers, ready to resolve any inquiries that may arise and ensure that sessions run smoothly.
Conclusion
You, as a parent, may indeed have a lot of concerns about online tutoring, given that it’s a new, recent academic phenomenon. However, as we’ve seen in this article, these concerns are often outdated misconceptions about this digital mode of education. The truth is, for the past few decades, technology and education have only been better integrated, paving the way for an accessible, flexible, and novel online learning process. Nowadays, online tutoring is a valuable, cost-efficient tool that can be used by your child for various academic reasons.
If you’re considering booking an online tutoring session for your child, you can’t go wrong with VIPTutors. We at VIPTutors have a catalog of trusted academic consultancies and a carefully curated selection of top US and UK tutors, ready to help your child excel. They can enjoy close, personal, and high-quality tutoring with us, even in a digital learning setup. Come book an online tutoring session and boost your child’s potential now!