Maybe you are at that point in your academic life when everything has just become overwhelming. The homework load is too much, your exams are just around the corner and you have no idea how you will tackle all this while still maintaining your grades. You have finally decided to enlist the help of a tutor.
Luckily you have different options out there for you. Finding a tutor is not necessarily hard, but finding the tutor that is right for you can take a little extra amount of work. Like you, many wonder if they should go for one-on-one vs online tutors. This is why we have come up with this blog. When you know the benefits that both of these mediums of learning provide, you can easily decide between one-on-one and online tutoring.
Online Tutoring: Advantages and Limitations
What is online tutoring? You sit at a computer for a one-on-one video conference with a tutor in real time. you don’t have to drive anywhere; you pay with your debit/credit card. Some details may be different from company to company but the basics are the same. So, how do you know if it is right for you? We can help with that by listing the advantages and limitations of online tutoring to help you decide if this is what you are looking for or not.
Advantages of Online Tutoring
You decide when and where
Once you enter the academic year, a regular tutoring session can become a chore. Busy students find it incredibly hard to keep to a tutoring session once they consider factors such as travelling time or other unexpected disruptions that come with being a university student. And even if you have booked a tutoring session, it doesn’t coincide with a difficult project or an upcoming test. That is not the case with online tutoring, you can get help 24/7 no matter when and where you are.
Save time and money
Tutoring rates are different for every service provider and they can easily add up, especially if you are booked into regular tutoring appointments that you don’t need. Moreover, it can be difficult to price shop for in-person tutors as it involves interviewing multiple people and discussing their fees, cancellation policies and other important details. However, when you look for online tutors, these policies are already decided and listed upfront. You can scroll through different tutoring service providers and tutors and compare their costs easily.
There are more tutors to choose from
in-person tutoring, the biggest disadvantage is the geographical one. You can only choose someone who lives in your vicinity. While in online tutoring, you have the option to choose from a plethora of tutors with various levels of experience without worrying about their geographical location.
Limitations of Online Tutoring
Not All Companies are Equal
A major drawback of online tutoring is that not all tutoring services provide the same service. Some companies do not thoroughly test their tutors and don’t have extremely high standards for their tutors. So, you can end up with a tutor who has little to no experience.
Effective Tutoring
Certain subjects are harder to pull off for online tutors, for example, chemistry or biology diagnoses require a lab to perform practicals and face-to-face communication. Teaching subjects that are theoretical in nature is fine, but in subjects like these students require practical information.
Internet Reliability
Lastly, an internet connection is not always reliable or even readily available. Sometimes the internet program or weather doesn’t want to cooperate and can kill your session time due to technical difficulties. This can become a hindering factor in your session and can make you waste time and money.
Personalised Learning: A Comparison of One-to-One and Online Tutoring
In this sphere, both types of tutoring win. Before students and parents used to opt for traditional one-on-one tutoring because it offers personalized learning. However, now on a few online learning platforms such as Tutoring Lounge, you can take advantage of live tutoring calls. Which can be conducted over the phone or by video in real time. This allows tutors to support their students by directing and giving them an opportunity for them to ask questions, initiate discussion and let the tutor know which part of the subject they are having difficulties with. This means that online tutors can now monitor student progress and make customized teaching plans according to the requirements of the students.
Interactive Learning: A Comparison of One-to-One and Online Tutoring
The greatest benefit of one-on-one tutoring is that you get to meet the person you will be working with. When you have the opportunity to meet the tutor it is easier to connect with them and your improvement can happen much faster. Online tutoring provides this advantage as well, but as it has allotted time, for example, if you have booked a tutor for an hour only and you have a problem that you need to work on so you will forgo getting comfortable with your tutor and quickly dive into the problem you need help with. This is why communicating with your online tutor can become a little harder.
Flexibility and Convenience: Which is Better, One-to-One Tutoring or Online Tutoring?
Online tutoring, unlike one-on-one tutoring, offers several forms of flexibility. They are suitable for those who have other responsibilities that wouldn’t require them to be physically present with the tutor. As online tutoring is conducted remotely, students can join from wherever they are and whenever without travelling to any other place.
Cost-effectiveness: One-to-One Tutoring vs Online Tutoring
As time goes on, all forms of educational services have become expensive and tutoring is no different. However, when compared to each other we have come to the conclusion that despite the rising prices of online tutoring, it is considerably cheaper. Online tutoring reduces costs as students don’t have to travel from one place to another to study. All you need is a reliable internet connection and you are ready to go.
Availability and Accessibility: Comparing One-to-One and Online Tutoring
In terms of availability and accessibility, online tutoring takes the cake. You can book an online tutor whenever and wherever you are. Most online tutoring services are available 24/7 to help you with any academic problem you may have. While in one-on-one tutoring, you have booked a session for a particular day and time so you can’t access it before the decided time.
Conclusion
There is no perfect learning medium. Online and one-on-one tutoring both have their advantages and limitations. Where online tutoring is cheaper and can be accessed remotely, one-on-one tutoring requires physical classes however, they are the best option for students who look for a more interactive experience. We hope with the help of this blog you will be able to choose the best medium for yourself. Once you have decided you can take advantage of Tutoring Lounge online and one-on-one tutoring service and book experienced tutors to help you with any academic problem you may have.
