Online Tutoring – Finding and Creating Resources

Amongst the many tasks that online tutors must take on is finding resources or, where necessary, creating their own. This is where the internet comes into its own. Online tutors, whether new to online learning or relatively experienced, will find resources of many different kinds, from teaching materials to support networks of various kinds.

Finding Teaching Materials:

A search will reveal many sources of teaching materials, which online tutors may be able to use ‘as is’. Alternatively, these materials can be adapted according to your students’ needs and according to local curriculum requirements. Browsing these materials, which include lesson plans, interactive materials and much more, is worthwhile for all online tutors, as a source of ideas and inspiration.

Materials are available in unexpected places. YouTube, for example, hosts numerous video tutorials and ‘how-to’ materials, that are viewed by thousands. If planning to incorporate them into their tutoring jobs, tutors are, however, advised to evaluate their quality and accuracy first. That said, there is quality information available, and it can be well worth alerting your students to such materials.

Finding Technological Help and Inspiration

Many online tutors come to tutoring jobs with excellent teaching skills but less – or even almost no – experience of interactive teaching and the software programs that can be used. Technological help is one of the needs that online tutors and teachers cite most regularly in surveys.

Creating Teaching Materials

Even if you work through a website or agency that provides software and technical assistance, you will find useful materials online, such as small programs that allow you to create interactive quizzes, and much more besides. For those wishing to experiment with developing resources, there is also information on the software available for creating your own materials for use in your tutoring jobs.

Online Education News

Many e-bulletins and journals that collate news from the world of online education are available at no cost. Some specialise in K-12 education, others in adult learning and other sectors. Some focus on online education in particular subject areas. There are also sites, lists and online publications that provide regular updates on developments in a range of educational subfields, from educational philosophy to technology.

Online tutors are pioneers in a new educational arena and subscribing to these e-publications will provide valuable alerts about its rapidly changing contours, as well as tools, opportunities, training and professional development, links, ads for tutoring jobs and a host of other resources.

Discussion Forums

Online tutors and educators in mainstream subjects or educational fields will have little trouble finding websites that cater to their special interests. Many sites also have discussion forums where users in similar tutoring jobs can post questions, share experiences and obtain support and advice on a whole host of topics. Discussion forums can be especially helpful for online tutors and teachers working from home, who can feel isolated from contact with colleagues. Networking can also be important in recruiting students and finding tutoring jobs.

Online tutors will find a wealth of material on the internet that can help them to enhance the service they offer students in a variety of ways. Help and advice of all kinds is only a few clicks away.

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