Online tutoring

These are hard times for everyone, with regards to health and family, but also when it comes to work and homeschooling. Following current recommendations on social distancing, and realizing how challenging it is for parents to keep working and helping their children with school, Sitly now offers an option of online tutoring to ease parents’ workload.

An online tutor helps children with their schoolwork remotely, following school instructions and offering gentle guidance to school-aged children, through a video call app of choice (Skype, Google Hangouts, Zoom).

It is easy to find or become an online tutor with Sitly – all you need is internet connection and a video call software.

How to find an online tutor or offer your online tutoring services:

Sign up to Sitly. You can indicate whether you need a tutor or want to offer your services as an online tutor. Specify what kind of assignments your children have, in the ‘About’ section.
Filter the people who offer online tutoring or who are looking for an online tutor. Check their profiles for availability. When you find someone suitable, send them a message.
Found someone? Meet up over the phone or video call, to get to know them. The children and the online tutor can also get a chance to meet each other this way.

How to set up an online tutoring session

Parents: make sure the tutor receives all required schoolwork in advance, for example via e-mail, wetransfer or Google drive. You can even send it via Telegram or Skype.
Tutors: go through the schoolwork before the session starts, to make sure you know what needs to be done and that you understand everything.
Decide on the app you both want to use for video calling and install it. You can read more about the free options there are and how they work, right here [link to app instructions]
Parents: Make sure your child has a quiet place to work. If you have them: noise-cancelling headphones are a great way to keep your child focused on the tutor and homework
Tutors: During the session alternate between going through the assignments that need to be done and letting the child work independently. Try to make homework fun and engaging, and don’t forget to praise and encourage.
Evaluate after the first few sessions and keep each other informed about the progress of the child; don’t be afraid to ask questions or provide recommendations for improvement

What video calling apps to use?

There are many free apps that you can use for online tutoring, like Skype, Zoom, Google Hangouts, Facetime.

How to use these programs

Skype
(suited for Mac, tablet and PC. Free to use.)

How to install:

Download Skype from https://www.skype.com/get-skype/. You can also go to the Apple Appstore or the Google Play Store
Create a free account within the app or at https://www.skype.com

How to get started:

Calling and messaging: Search for the user name of the parent or online tutor in the search bar. Click on the person you’re looking for from the list, and call!
Sharing files/school documents: You can use the chat icon to open a chat screen. There you can send links and attach files using the paperclip icon.
Sharing your screen: this is useful sometimes when children have online homework. It allows you to share anything that’s on your screen - online learning materials, websites, videos, anything you type on your own screen in a text document. You can start by pressing the ’Screen Sharing’ button. On the mobile version you’ll need to tap the icon with three dots, then the ‘Screen Sharing’ button.

Zoom
(suited for mac, tablet and PC. Free to use.)

How to install:

Sign up for a free Zoom account at https://www.zoom.us
Use Zoom within your browser when you sign in to your account at https://www.zoom.us or download an app in Apple App Store or Google Play Store

How to get started:

After logging in, click a downward arrow and select ‘Start with Video’, then click ‘New Meeting’. Click ‘Invite’ button at the bottom of the screen, then choose to invite a participant via email or URL link.
Calling and messaging: After a participant accepts an invitation via email or just by clicking a URL link in the invite you sent them, a meeting starts in a virtual meeting room. Zoom offers free calls, with ability to join via telephone call-in from a regular cell phone number.
Scheduling lessons: Zoom web portal allows to send invites to join a class directly to students’ emails, with personalized meeting ID and password. There is also an option for recurring invitations.
Screen sharing: Select ’Share Screen’ button at the bottom of your meeting room. You then can choose to share the whole desktop, individual application, whiteboard, or an individual file from a specific location on your computer (or dropbox/GoogleDocs).

Google Hangouts
(suited for mac, tablet and PC. Free to use.)

How to install:

Go to https://hangouts.google.com or open Hangouts in Gmail in the dropdown section in the top right corner
At the top click ’New Conversation’
Enter and select a name/email

How to get started:

Calling and messaging: Click on ‘Video call’. This opens up a new ‘Hangout’. A popup will ask you to add the email address of the parent or tutor. This will send an invitation to the other person by e-mail. When they accept that invitation they will automatically join the video call.
Screen sharing: Click the ‘Screen share’ button on the menu bar at the top, a new window will appear, then select the screen you want to share. Click ‘Share Selected Screen’ button. It allows you to share anything that’s on your screen - online learning materials, websites, videos, anything you type on your own screen in a text document.
Seamless Scheduling: Fully integrated with your gmail account

Facetime
(suited for Mac/iOS. Free to use.)

How to install:

Open FaceTime app on your iPhone/iPad/Mac and sign in with your AppleID or download FaceTime app from Apple AppStore

How to get started:

Make a FaceTime phone call by pressing ‘+’ button, and typing in tutor’s or student’’s email/phone number. If you have that person’s name in your Contacts, you can start typing their name in the search window

GoogleDocs

How to install:

Go to https://docs.google.com or sign into your gmail account and select Docs from the dropdown menu in the upper right corner
In the top left corner, under ‘Start a new document’, click ‘New+’ or go to docs.google.com/create to create a new document instantly

How to get started:

Share files and folders with other users via email invitation: Just click ‘Share’ at the upper right corner of the document and type in an email along with a message about the document you are sharing. The invitee will get an email and will be able to see the shared document and edit it, if given permission.
Use Google Docs as a collaboration tool just as you normally use any Word document