COVID-19 has undeniably reshaped the way we live, work, and interact. As countries grappled with rising case numbers and healthcare challenges, individuals and communities were thrust into a whirlwind of change. From remote work and online education to social distancing and mask mandates, the very fabric of our daily routines have changed.
It’s Had a Tremendous Impact on Education
For countless students worldwide, this pandemic has led to one significant consequence: schools are closing. The initial closures, which many hoped would be temporary, are now stretching into months. This unforeseen extension has thrust both educational institutions and their students into the deep end, forcing the shift to distance learning. The transition is happening in real-time, regardless of whether schools and students are prepared for it.
Distance Learning is More Than Just Video Calls
Effective online tutoring is not as straightforward as you might think. It’s not just about hopping onto a video chat or spending a few hours getting the hang of Google Classroom or Zoom. It’s about creating an environment where learning can thrive, even in the absence of physical presence.
We began virtual education well before the pandemic. For several years now, we’ve been teaching most of our students via face-to-face video sessions, improving our approach over time to provide an enriching and interactive learning experience. Our online classes connect students from all over the world, including those living in the same country as us.
Some of our students live very close to our office but still choose our online classes. They prefer the smooth and user-friendly experience we provide with our online tutoring platform, which often feels as good as, if not better than, regular classroom lessons. No kidding: the experience can be so seamless that even a five-minute walk seems wasteful.
This didn’t happen overnight. Our success results from relentless practice, year in and year out. We’ve honed our skills, adapted to various challenges, and refined our methods to provide top-notch education remotely.
How Do You Take the Most Advantage of Video Tutoring?
Online video classes are becoming more common. However, not all teachers are familiar with this method. For newcomers to online teaching, it can be challenging.
To help, here are some ideas for getting the most out of an educator unaccustomed to working over video, based on our real-world experience. We’ve tried different methods, talked with other educators, and learned from our mistakes to offer practical advice.
If you have questions, please schedule a chat. We’re here to help with no hidden fees. Just set up a chat, and we can discuss online education together.
One of the aspects of Zoom that I have found especially valuable is one that you may not have had much need for in one-on-one interactions — that ability of multiple people to do annotations on a single person’s shared whiteboard makes group learning so much more effective.
I mention this in particular because people often think they’ll do better with third-party whiteboard software like OneNote or whatever. Those often have fancy capabilities not present in the Zoom whiteboard, but they fall short on collaboration.
Great point, Cael. Thanks for mentioning it.
I do some small-group classes sometimes and it’s been almost magical, just as you say. What I didn’t realize was that Zoom is unusual in this respect.
I especially appreciate your mentioning it now, because I’m imagining there will be more call for small-group help from students whose schools are still working out the transition to remote learning. If not for your comment, I might have taken this important capability for granted.