Following recent reports and speculation surrounding the popularity and future of online private tutoring, Tutors International founder, Adam Caller, offered advice this week on how to use online resources most effectively, and what improvements need to be made to online services.
The online tutoring market has become increasingly competitive in recent years, and it is predicted to continue to grow  as we head into 2018 and beyond, due to the rising number of international players entering the industry, and a continued digitalisation of the global education system.
This week, Adam Caller, independent education consultant and founder of Tutors International, recognised the increasing value of digital access to one-to-one learning and mentorship, but warned that online tutoring should not be relied upon as a sole method of learning, and reminded parents of the shortcomings of choosing online classrooms, and predicted that the industry could see a slump before the predicted boom.
Mr Caller commented: “Taking learning out of the traditional school environment can offer numerous benefits to children and families. The increased care and one-to-one attention that can be provided by an experienced and talented tutor cannot be rivalled when it comes to bringing out the best in children. However, in today’s increasingly digital world, I fear that the potential remains for online tutoring to have the opposite effect, if parents rely solely on digital learning methods. The big draw of private tutoring is that the student has the presence, and undivided attention of, an exceptional educator, entirely focused on their needs – and vice versa. What we see with online tutoring is a key separation – sometimes by hundreds of miles – of student and teacher, and it is not always possible for tutors to ensure that the child remains focused and engaged. As a result, demand may well drop, as parents may be mistaken into thinking that tutoring is inherently flawed when, actually, it just hasn’t been applied appropriately.”
Tutors International acknowledges that online tutoring can and does have a role to play alongside other teaching methods, both traditional and non-traditional. A large variety of online tutoring options and services have become available in recent years, which makes this method ideal for after-school support, exam preparation, or extra tuition to address specific academic struggles.
Mr Caller added: “Skype and video calling technology, in general, has been a huge driver in the growth of online tutoring, as personal interaction, face-to-face and also non-verbal, between student and tutor is crucial for effective learning. When used to supplement a full-time classroom education, or even full-time homeschooling, it can provide that extra bit of one-to-one attention that makes all the difference. However, we have also seen these methods fail as a long-term solution for families. We have also witnessed the shortcomings of ‘digital classrooms’ where it is all too easy for children to switch off. The growth predicted for the online tutoring industry is certainly not unrealistic, but my personal prediction is that we will start to notice a dip as parents don’t see the results they expected, followed by a period of fine tuning to applications and their role in education, before it will start to rise again. For online tuition to really thrive, it needs to continue to improve its tools and delivery, and know its place as part of the wider global education system.”