The benefit of having a tutor available to your child 24/7 from the comfort of your own home computer speaks for itself. But what exactly do you look for in an online tutoring service?
It's a fact—kids are busier than ever. From after-school sports to club meetings and music lessons, many of our children's schedules are just as busy as ours. So the benefit of having a tutor available to your child 24/7 from the comfort of your own home computer speaks for itself. But what exactly do you look for in an
online tutoring service? Here are some tips to help you find someone who will "click" with you and your child. Now that's worth not carpooling over.
Flexibility: Because homework happens all the time
One of the biggest benefits of online tutoring is the freedom and flexibility it affords you and your child. You may be getting ready for work in the morning when your child realizes that she still needs some help with her algebra homework. With online tutoring, she can log on and get help from a live tutor while you're packing school lunches. After school, while you're shuttling your fifth grader to soccer practice, your teenager can be at home working with a physics tutor on the properties of two-dimensional kinematics. If this kind of flexibility is important to you, be sure to select an online tutoring service that offers 24/7, on-demand tutoring with no appointment needed.
Screened and certified: Tutors you can trust
Reputable online tutoring services will tell you exactly how their tutors are selected. Opt for one that ensures all tutors are screened and certified. Some services also offer professional development to their tutors, which means tutors are assigned to mentors who review the tutor's recent sessions, student ratings and feedback. Safe online tutoring services have strictly enforced policies prohibiting tutors and students from sharing personal information, including last names. For full peace of mind, select a service that will allow you to view transcripts from your child's previous tutoring sessions.
Companies like Tutor.com fulfill all of these requirements by ensuring that every tutor completes an extensive application and screening process, which includes testing on subject matter, a final exam and mock tutoring sessions. Each Tutor.com tutor must pass a thorough background check, and throughout the year, mentors monitor and evaluate the tutor's methods and professionalism. Since every online tutoring session is recorded and saved, you can review your child's session transcripts at any time to see how your child is progressing.
The Bottom Line: What's this going to cost?
Affordability is one of the most common concerns for parents seeking an online tutor. And while a wide range of fee structures exists for online tutoring services, many parents are pleasantly surprised to learn how affordable online tutoring can be. The key is understanding how your child will use the service. Most online tutoring services structure their rates in one of the following three ways:
By month:These services typically charge a flat rate for a month of tutoring (the number of tutoring hours offered in a monthly package vary by service). Many of the companies offering this option limit the monthly rate to one subject area. Additional subjects cost extra. Just like your gym membership, if you only use four sessions in a month, you don't get a refund for unused time.
By subject (math, science, history): If your child gets gold stars in English but struggles with math, you may consider single-subject tutoring. Many companies offering pricing by subject charge a higher rate for the first subject and a reduced rate for subsequent subjects. Be aware that pricing can vary as much as 20 percent based on a child's grade level.
By minute: This is the most flexible method of payment. Companies such as Tutor.com offer packages of minutes that can be used in multiple subject areas any hour of the day. The price per minute is based on how many minutes you purchase rather than the number or level of subject areas, and at Tutor.com, minutes your child doesn't use are fully refundable for up to six months.
Ready Set Go: Getting started
Before you commit to an online tutoring service, find out if the service offers a reduced-rate trial. Because just like healthy cereal, you may love it, but it has to be 'kid approved.'
Provided by Tutor.com (www.tutor.com)
© 2008, Tutor.com