The In-Person vs Online Tutoring Debate

After many years as a tutor, I've experienced my fair share of both in-person and online sessions. Both have their place, but the difference is real, distinct, and the winner is clear.

In person, you notice that which the camera cannot capture. The hover of the pencil over the page before the student loses faith. The drop of the shoulders when a concept isn't quite clicking, or the silent confidence when it finally does. These quiet moments - to a camera, imperceptible - allow me to step in before the student even says their stuck.

Working on paper, side by side, matters. I can pinpoint the line where a negative went astray, see the thinking of the student laid out across the page without them ever having to describe it. Online, I often find myself squinting at a pixelated image, trying to decipher handwriting that challenges me under normal circumstances.

This is not to say online tutoring doesn't have its place. The convenience and flexible nature of the medium accommodates busy schedules in a manner unparalleled. It just can't facilitate the learning environment an in-person session supports.

The simple reduction in devices limits distraction; no notifications, issues with internet providers, or a gaming tab running produces a more focused environment.

Fostering a relationship of trust with your student may be overlooked, but is arguably the most productive means of successful iterative learning. Students who feel comfortable to admit their 'wrongs' experience a world full of 'rights' in return. A conversation over a screen is by nature cold. This is not meant to blame or suggest improvement for this nature of online discussion, simply it serves as a register of its effect; a notable further hurdle to overcome.

I acknowledge the value of the online session, benefiting from it myself many times, but I would not advocate for its continued use unless absolutely necessary.