Online Tutoring Tips: What Professors Don’t Tell Students, But You Should

Professors and tutors exist in two related but entirely different worlds. While professors are there to teach the subject, tutors are there to help students pass the class. That difference matters a lot for students trying to cram for a midterm or final. That’s where great online tutors stand out. They help students with targeted insight that professors don’t provide.  In this post, I’ll go over some online tutoring tips so you can give students exactly what they need.

Tip 1: Tell Students What’s On the Exam

Professors love to be vague about what’s going to be on the exam. They’ll tell you that everything in the textbook can be covered so students learn as much as possible. Tutors, however, know that professors often ask about certain subjects way more than others. They can help students narrow down their studying on areas that are going to bring them the most points.

Tip: In your crash courses or videos, dedicate a section to test trends and past question formats. You may even want to start your session with an overview of what to expect on the exam.

Tip 2: Focus on the Material that Matters

Similarly, professors like to give equal weight to every chapter and example. Tutors tell you which chapters and examples to focus on. This is a real lifesaver for students with multiple exams who need to focus their precious studying time.

Tip: Create a “key topics” checklist and post it for free to boost your credibility and add value. This guide will also help students know what to expect from your content or live sessions.

Tip 3: Show How to Apply the Material

Whereas professors may pontificate on the theory, tutors show you how to apply concepts with actual examples. They’ll do so in a way that helps students to better understand the material. They’ll also go over common mistakes and how to avoid them. After all, there’s a good chance the tutor, or one of their students, has made those mistakes as well.

Tip: Use your online tutoring sessions to go over practice examples in real time, and spend time explaining possible mistakes.

Tip 4: Explain how Professors Grade

Most students never even get to see their graded exams. Explain how professors grade, especially in terms of how they use rubrics to assign points. Share what you expect to be on the rubric and how to maximize time to get the most points possible.

Tip: When going over examples, tell the students which parts will earn them points. Offer a mock grade and feedback on their examples as well.

Tip 5: Help Students Study Smarter, not Longer

Professors love to exaggerate how much time is needed to study for the exam. Your job as a tutor is to cut down that time as much as possible. Share any resources that you have that will help your students cut down on their study time. This includes study guides, online resources, and mock exams.

Tip: Lay out a realistic studying plan for your students, based on how much time is left until the exam. Let students know the grade they can expect by sticking to that plan.

Tip 6: Share Insight Ethically

While tutors are there to help students get an edge and learn smart, they’re not there to assist cheating. Make sure your students know the limits of what you can offer, and avoid sharing any sort of copyrighted material.

Tip: Include a short disclaimer about academic integrity on your content to build trust and set clear expectations.

Use these Online Tutoring Tips to Help your Students

Remember, tutoring is about providing value by helping students focus. The more you can cut down their study time and focus on the core of what they need to know, the more value you are offering them.

If you’re building your profile on Tutor Spaces, following these online tutoring tips will help you stand out. Your students will thank you.

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