Virtual learning courses are no substitute for a classroom experience. The reasons are clear to anyone who spent the spring juggling multiple learning portals and adapting to shifting guidance from schools. A McKinsey study offers a worrying look at the potential impact of COVID-19 on learning. In the scenario that school resumes in January 2021, students could lose between three and 14 months of learning, depending on the quality of online instruction and socioeconomic factors.
The good news is that tutoring can offset these setbacks (and even help students move ahead) if it is based on factors such as a solid relationship with the same tutor and regular tutoring sessions over a sustained period. A tutor can support remote learning, ensure student progress and motivation, and improve a less-than-ideal learning environment.
A Tutor Can Facilitate Big Picture Learning
A tutor can work with students to “zoom-out” from the narrow focus of online learning and set ambitious but attainable goals. The added benefit of goal-directed learning is the boost to student confidence and motivation. When a student defines and owns his or her own goals with a tutor’s support and has the tutor’s help in tracking progress and celebrating wins, much of the disengagement and disconnectedness that can plague virtual learning falls away.
A Tutor Can Build Structure and Improve Study Habits
Many students report feeling adrift without the rhythm of a school day or a teacher’s in-class scrutiny. A tutor can help students evaluate their online schedule and adjust both study habits and time management to the unfamiliar tempo of virtual school. As with goal setting, the purpose is to build habits and mindsets that serve a student’s unique needs both in the short and long-term.
A Tutor Can Reinforce Content and Build Confidence in Even the Most Challenging Subjects
In class, teachers usually realize when a student fails to grasp a new concept and can quickly correct these issues in-person. But remote learning dilutes that ability, which means students can fall behind. Many students find that one hour per week of tutoring in a given subject can help address gaps in foundational knowledge, clarify current material and position them for greater success. A tutor can help students excel in even the most challenging subjects by explaining difficult concepts, moving at the student’s preferred pace, and providing immediate feedback.
Tutors Can Fill in for Busy Parents
Right now, parents are overextended as they try to ensure their children keep up with schoolwork while balancing the demands of their own jobs. At the same time, many parents feel ill-equipped to teach their students advanced STEM subjects, and some may find their teen less than receptive to their feedback or teaching efforts. A tutor can help on all these counts by keeping students accountable, teaching those complicated subjects and providing an alternative instructor to a parent. Regular parent-tutor communication provided by an astute tutor allows parents to stay abreast of student progress and lets parents see the roadmap of their child’s progress.
Are you ready to support your child with tutoring? Click here to schedule a consultation and learn how Tungsten Prep will help your family prepare for online learning.
