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Threshold Education

Online tutoring vs Traditional tutoring: Which is Best?

Updated: Oct 22, 2021

With the easing of lockdown on the horizon, and normalcy wished for by most before the end of this year, the big question over children’s education continues to be posed.


Although all tutoring is currently taking place online, traditional tutoring methods will soon be a possibility if the UK is on track to end its third and final lockdown. There is no doubt that the pandemic, and the lockdown in particular, has reinforced the importance of educational services such as tutoring. Moreover, during this period, online tutoring has been widely used due to its convenience and effective factors for most children and parents alike, so should we ever go back to traditional methods?


What is traditional tutoring?


Traditional tutoring is a method where the tutor and student meet face-to-face. Tutoring sessions with just one student are available, as well as group tuition classes - varying between two to ten students per class. Most importantly, a very positive relationship and atmosphere can transpire by having tutoring services in person.


What is online tutoring?


Online tutoring is a method where the meeting between tutor and student is online in real time, usually over Skype or Zoom. Having a virtual teaching environment is a great way to get children and parents interested with e-learning which is strongly argued as being just as, if not more, effective than classroom learning. Furthering this, online tutoring is often thought as being much more flexible and tailored to the student’s needs than traditional tutoring methods.


What are some of the benefits of traditional tutoring?


As human beings, we are a social species that relies on day-to-day interactions. In-person communication, or face-to-face, is very beneficial for a multitude of reasons, including being able to read and respond to emotions and body language not as accessible over the Internet.


Another reason such a method is considered is to ensure your child remains focused. Distractions are a part of everyday life, so having the tutor and student in the same room could help reinforce attention on study time if the student is prone to being inattentive.


What are some of the benefits of online tutoring?


The flexibility of online tutoring, for both schedule and geographical restrictions, is one of the most popular reasons why online tutoring has grown in popularity over the past few years. You can log on and join from anywhere in the world as long as you have access to the internet, and without having to go through the typical traffic jams common in the UK.


It is also important to not underestimate the power of technology when it comes to keeping the student engaged. In our technologically advanced society, online tutoring allows for the lessons to be interactive and fun! With the unlimited resources at our disposal, computer-based learning is becoming a favourite for most.


So, traditional tutoring or online tutoring?


What differentiates online tutoring from traditional tutoring is that, with the sudden rise in demand over the past year, there are many different options being added to online tuition platforms. All of which go above and beyond what was available pre-lockdown, and there's no sign of this stopping any time soon! These may also be considered more modern than traditional methods which are quickly becoming obsolete. The techniques used for online tutoring now make for an easier and more effective tutoring process than ever before.


Each method of tuition does have its own benefits and drawbacks, and the truth is that everyone is different. It can be a very objective and circumstantial question to pose, thus making it incredibly important to assess the individual student's needs and inclinations before making any decisions.


However, due to the pandemic, a mind shift has most certainly occurred with our own students and parents. Online tutoring - once doubted by many in fear of home distractions and possible isolation - has now become the leading choice for most, which is likely to last beyond our lockdown era. Bear this in mind!


With our tutors located across the world, a wide choice is available when it comes to our Online Tuition services. Our high quality services - both online and traditional - are kept alive by our fantastic tutors, who have been specifically selected for their high standards and expertise in particular subject areas.


Our experts are readily available to answer any questions you may still have on both traditional and online tutoring, so don't hesitate to get in touch with us today.


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1 Comment


Emilce Rees
Emilce Rees
Mar 09, 2021

No need to be binary. Tutoring has always been about blended learning.

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