Learning is undergoing a paradigm shift. While schools are trying to adapt to the new virtual environments, parents are looking for newer ways to engage their children productively and helping them adjust to these new learning methods. Online Learning Management environments, online tutoring platforms, online content platforms all help achieve these goals.
Schools
While a few schools have adapted well to the changing needs, many are trying to replicate in-class processes virtually, not completely assessing whether these old methods will work in the new environment. For example, a physical classroom is simply replaced with a virtual meeting room. Students who are generally shy of asking a question in a classroom are lost even more in a virtual class.
The curricula and evaluation methods are also not being changed to suit the new environment. Instead of using an integrated LMS that has online classes, online assessments and assignments, teachers are sharing the worksheets and assignments through email, WhatsApp or Google drive. Children are then being asked to upload completed assignments. These disparate tools create much confusion and lead to inefficient learning in the long term.
Students
Students do not get as much attention from the teacher as in a physical classroom, unless they are vocal with their problems. Some children struggle to keep up with the virtual lessons, while some others find it a problem to stay focussed while an online class is happening.
Supplementary Learning Methods
This is where online tutoring will play the role of a supplementary learning method in the form of one-on-one or one-to-many (often a much smaller group compared to what a school’s online class has) classes. Students get much better attention and teachers also feel a lot lesser pressure catering to a much reduced audience. Parents are turning to online tutoring platforms to help the children navigate the new learning process and keep them engaged and motivated.
Firstly, the student is learning in the safe environs of a home without having to travel to a tuition class. Students can get access to best tutors without having to worry about the geographical location. This will help parents find the best possible tutors suited for their budget.
A tutor can create a customized study plan for each student and monitor. This will bring in some structure to the learning process. This means that each student can complete the coursework at his / her own pace.
With one-on-one learning, the language barriers are also broken. Students who are not well-versed with the language medium of the school (especially children of immigrants) might find it tough to follow certain subjects. Online tutoring helps students connect with a tutor who can help them bridge this gap.
Parents can monitor the progress in tutoring sessions and get instant feedback about the student’s performance.
Online tools like a comprehensive LMS complement schools’ effort to move classes online. An integrated methodology that delivers classes, resources like worksheets and content(videos, images, text etc), assessments and feedback, all online provides a structure and can help smoothen the process greatly.
Online learning has transformed the way knowledge is imparted and learning takes place. And online tutoring provides supplementary help to students to bridge their skills gap in a cost-effective way.