Top 7 Challenges of Online Tutoring Explained
- Technology failures like poor internet and audio issues are a leading challenge in online tutoring.
- Tutors cannot monitor student body language or attention, especially in group sessions.
- Online tutoring provides knowledge but no formal certification or degree.
- Diverse school curricula mean tutors must adapt to each student’s unique syllabus.
- Switching tutors frequently prevents meaningful progress and productive learning.
Online tutoring has many advantages but there are many disadvantages as well. In this blog post we have identified top 7 challenges that online tutoring faces. Students preparing for programmes like IB MYP tutoring often encounter these hurdles firsthand.
Platform or Technology Related Challenges
Online tutoring involves technologies like Whiteboard, Video, Audio, Device, Internet etc. These technologies are not mature enough, and they are still evolving. One prominent disadvantage is the technology used, which sometimes slows down the tempo of teaching.
Technology, at times, does not work as intended. Also, there is a fair bit of time involved to get used to the new tools. These tools are essential for delivering and receiving online tutoring sessions.
Sometimes the internet or wifi issue occurs, and we lose the connection. At some other time, the server gives problems. Video and audio do not work at times, and sometimes the site itself is down. This kind of connectivity issue is non-existent in traditional face-to-face tutoring sessions.
Non-Acceptance Among Non-Tech-Savvy People
People are not ready to accept that online teaching is as effective as face-to-face tutoring (if not more!). Although the percentage of such people is not very high, it is significant. Language learners pursuing qualifications such as IGCSE Hindi as a Second Language tutoring may find this resistance particularly frustrating when seeking online support.
It usually takes time to get used to something new, and not everyone is ready to explore new things in their life.
Issue of Monitoring and Controlling the Students
Teachers cannot monitor if the student is paying attention or not, especially in a group tutoring session. The tutor cannot see the body language of their students in an online tutoring session.
Although it is not impossible for a large group, it is not practical to monitor every student. Due to this, the teacher is not able to control the students effectively.
A Disconnect Between Tutor and Student
Students cannot see the entire body language of the teacher. A connection between the teacher and student cannot form due to it. Consequently, there is a negative impact on learning.
The feedback is not always useful, and the teacher is not able to adjust as per the student’s requirements. Unless the student is proactive and ready to learn, progress can be limited. Platforms reviewed in our Verbalplanet review highlight how different services attempt to address this disconnect.
Validity and Acceptance of Certification
Is a degree more important than education for you? If yes, then online tutoring has no scope for you. Online tutoring does not provide any certification.
The only thing you can get out of it is knowledge. If you want a certificate, then you must enroll yourself in a school or college. Professionals pursuing credentials like the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) exam should keep this distinction in mind when choosing between online tutoring and formal programmes.
Different Colleges and Schools Have Diverse Curricula
Every school and college follows a different syllabus, even for the same subject. So every student comes with various requirements, and the tutor needs to adjust accordingly. This is one of the biggest challenges of online tutoring.
Tutors find it challenging to adapt to the needs of every student. The student needs to understand that it takes a few sessions for the tutor to fully grasp their requirements. Only after that can a good rapport be built between the student and the tutor. This challenge is especially visible in technical fields — students seeking a mechatronics tutor or microbiology tutoring often arrive with highly specific syllabus requirements.
People Are Spoilt for Choice and Keep Trying Different Tutors
This makes any meaningful learning impossible. Actual knowledge is possible only when a student sticks with the same tutor for an extended period. This way, the tutor starts understanding the requirements of the student better.
It makes the sessions more productive and more efficient. The first few sessions are often spent understanding the student’s requirements. Our Duolingo review and Smartick review both touch on how platform-hopping affects long-term learning outcomes.
For more info, check this blog on the challenges of online tutoring by one of our competitors.
Need top grades in your exams? View details of our online tutoring services or reach us on WhatsApp at +91 8971 383660 or by email at meb@myengineeringbuddy.com.
Platforms like Schülerhilfe take a different approach to these challenges — see our Schülerhilfe review for a detailed comparison.
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