What does it take to be a good online tutor? Overcoming the challenges of tutoring online and not being face to face with your students are made easy when you follow these simple guidelines.

Communication is Key

Whether you are in person or online, proper communication is the pillar to any successful relationship. Being honest and transparent is the first step towards open and honest communication with your students. When you are open and honest with them, they will respond in kind.

Put Yourself in Your Student’s Shoes

  Compassion and understanding are so important when you are teaching someone something that you know very well and they do not know as well. This will help with your patience level, and having patience while students are learning something new is very important.

Always Engage in Learning

Learning something new makes you a better teacher or tutor. Besides doing your own learning and research, ask your students to teach you one new thing a week or a month. It will not only make the relationship stronger because of the two way interaction, but will allow you to see things from your student’s perspective and they can see things from yours as well.

Set Appointment Times

Setting appointment times is crucial to time management and organization. You can always have informal questions and answers in between the main tutoring sessions, but having that set schedule sets boundaries and creates deadlines, both of which are necessary when learning.

Invite Participation

Incite responses and expect your students to ask questions. Their level of engagement will insure they are learning and absorbing what you are teaching.

Be Flexible

When you have open communication with your students and a level of understanding you can also be flexible. The occasional change in schedule or topics to accommodate your students will go a long way towards tutoring success.

Get Creative

Use additional resources, change media, even changing the color pen or markers used will help liven up and even better organize your lessons.

Provide Feedback and Ask Your Student for It Too

Students need to know how they are doing on a regular basis, so you should provide positive feedback as often as possible. If there is a problem, instead of negative feedback, try to turn it into a positive with suggestions of what to avoid. You should also always ask your students for feedback as well, this will keep you on track, let you know how you are doing and also make sure that the students are learning at the right level.

Bio: Amanda Greene is author and Brand Manager for RHL.org, leading dorm bedding supplier. She enjoys writing about college and dorm topics.