Steps To Get Started As An Online Tutor
Online tutoring is in high demand as more and more learners are shifting to online education. An online tutor enjoys a lot of perks such as no geographical restrictions, working from home, more number of students, etc.
If you want to get started as an online tutor, we got you covered. Majorly, you need to know about the right equipment, software, and platform. So, let’s check out how you can get started as an online tutor.
Table of Contents
Steps to Start Online Tutoring
Gather Basic Equipment
A Computer or a Laptop
A Webcam
A Headset
A Writing Board
Install Required Softwares
Messaging Applications
Cloud Storage Services
Task Planner Programs
Get a good internet connection
Setting Up the Business
Decide Your Subject
Find a Suitable Tutoring Platform
Get To Know Your Audience
Design Your Curriculum
Marketing and Advertising
Other Important Tips
Keep in Touch With the Students
Regular Assignments and Tests
Motivate the Learners
Conclusion
Steps to Start Online Tutoring
Gather Basic Equipment
- A Computer or a Laptop
You need one of these gadgets for the initial setup of the online tutoring business and later on for management.
- A Webcam
Pick a webcam that provides good picture quality because your interactions with the students are majorly going to be video-based.
- A Headset
You can purchase a headphone and a microphone separately but if possible, choose a headphone with a dedicated mic on it. Therefore, using it will make your audio clear and loud enough for students to listen, therefore enhancing their learning experience.
- A Writing Board
According to your budget, you can choose a digital whiteboard or a standard whiteboard. However, the digital one has many more useful features than the traditional one.
Install Required Softwares
- Messaging Applications
With the help of these, tutors can communicate with the students via chat. Example – Google Hangouts, Telegram, etc.
- Cloud Storage Services
They are used to store different types of data such as exam papers, pdf books, recorded video lectures, and many more. Example – Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.
- Task Planner Program
This type of program helps us to schedule and manage tasks efficiently. Example – Evernote, Planboard, etc.
Get a good internet connection
Research and find a good internet service provider in your location. A fast internet connection makes the online teaching process seamless for both tutors and learners. A wired internet connection over wireless is always preferred because it provides high data speeds.
Setting Up the Business
- Decide Your Subject
Students are looking for tuition of multiple kinds, for example, English tuition, economics tuition, maths tuition, etc. You should consider a subject in which you are interested and develop your expertise with time.
- Find a Suitable Tutoring Platform
Choose a reputed online platform as it can provide you the advantage of higher exposure. Big platforms have a presence in multiple countries, so the tutors can gain valuable experience after teaching different students. Although a certain level of education is preferred, good platforms do not provide all the weightage to the degrees that the tutor has. They rather look for talent and passion. They also provide good payment rates even for beginners.
- Get To Know Your Audience
Get to know about the learner’s requirements. Analyze different characteristics such as age, mindset, skill level, etc., and assess what the learners expect from you. After you get an idea about the audience, you can deliver more efficiently.
- Design Your Curriculum
After analyzing the requirements of the students, you can start developing the curriculum. Although Two major types of curriculum models are the Product Model and the Process Model.
The Product model is more focused on the result rather than the process. The main goal here is to reach the outcome. It can be passing an exam or a set of grades, etc.
Whereas, the process model is focused on the procedure rather than the result. The aim here is to optimize the student’s learning curve and thinking skills in the long run.
- Marketing and Advertising
Promotions in any form are beneficial to kickstart your online tutoring business. There are multiple options available for marketing, such as social media, paid ads, word of mouth, etc.
Other Important Tips
- Keep in Touch With the Students
Communicate with the learners and discuss the topic after the class. Always be ready for any queries and doubts from the student’s side. Doing this will develop a personal connection between you and the students, which is beneficial for your career in the long term.
- Regular Assignments and Tests
To keep the learning process engaging, give homework to your students at regular intervals. You can check their work on the webcam. In addition to that, tutors can also design tests for the learners with the help of various tools and websites available online.
- Motivate the Learners
Along with being a tutor, you have to play the role of a mentor as well. Listen to the learner’s problem, whether it is academic or personal. Your proper guidance will enhance the overall performance of the students.
Conclusion
Online tutoring provides multiple advantages to the tutors such as flexible work hours, good earnings, a large number of students, etc. With constant efforts in the right direction, you can build your business online and take it to new heights.
The scope of online tutoring is increasing as more and more students are getting access to the internet and technology. So, tutoring online has emerged as a decent career option. After going through the above-mentioned steps you will be able to kick-start your career as an online tutor in an effective manner.