Virtual learning has become the way of the world. Whether it’s better or worse than traditional classrooms is still an ongoing debate. But without a doubt, it is a paradigm that is here to stay for a while as the world attempts to get back on its feet, post the Covid-19 pandemic. With this new era of learning that has dawned upon us, tutors need to rethink their techniques to engage children in classrooms. As Ralph Waldo Emerson, renowned essayist, philosopher and poet says, “Knowledge is when you learn something new every day,” and it's high time that tutors learn and embrace the digital age to maximise learning in the classroom. 

Let's look at five handpicked tips to help you create an environment online that brings out the best in our students and judiciously utilises the time you have - 

1. Tap the Power of Storytelling

Long monologue-ish lectures aren’t ideal in a traditional classroom, but the prospect is even worse when you’re tutoring online. This is because there are a tonne of distractions when students are studying from home - their cellphones, background noise, technical issues; the list goes on. In such a scenario, students need to be interested in what the teacher has to say and storytelling can help achieve that. For instance, if your topic of the session is World War II, don’t just read out from a presentation. Instead, make up some characters and turn it into a story, so that your students are engaged.

2. Use the Right Tools

This can be a real game changer. There are a bunch of really useful tools for online tutors. They can cut down your work and help you save up on time too. For example, there are many applications that provide a host of interactive lesson plans that are developed by expert teachers. You can also find tools that allow tutors to import lessons and add interactive elements, web-links or video snippets to them.

3. Encourage Participation

Tools like quizzes, polls can incentivise students and encourage them to pay attention and participate in class. Giving them space for feedback and queries is a proven method of participation, while also providing you with insights into how to cater to your students’ needs. You could also introduce the concept of a peer review, where they talk about each other’s projects and create meaningful discussions around various topics. 

4. Manage Your Time

In an hour long class, it doesn’t make sense to spend 55 minutes talking and lecturing. There needs to be an element of fun in your sessions as well. So, you need to take breaks, include multimedia in between lectures, play games, have conversations and encourage discussion. Designing a tentative timeline in advance will help you track progress of the lesson and imbue it with enough breaks. 

5. Use Collaborative Projects

Without student-to-student interaction, school life can become dreary. The online classroom also makes students vulnerable to loneliness and a sense of detachment. Group projects can work as a great solution since it simulates social interactions, while offering a way for students to learn new things from their peers. Collaboration can spark creativity and also bring excitement in the form of new relationships amongst the students.

Teaching in a virtual environment takes some creativity; you always need to be on the lookout for new techniques to integrate into your online classroom. Yes, being an online tutor does come with some challenges, but none that cannot be overcome with a little thought and action.