Online Tutor
Job Description:Online tutors support students who are studying courses over the internet.
Job Category:What you will do:
You could:
- help students develop their study skills
- set clear rules for online behaviour
- act as a point of contact for students’ or parents’ queries
- give support by email, webchat, social media and telephone
- manage online discussion forums
- set up audio and video conferencing
- conduct ‘virtual classroom’ lessons using web technology
- monitor students’ progress
- assess students’ work and give constructive feedback
Skills:
You’ll need:
- knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
- knowledge of media production and communication
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
As well as:
- the ability to create the best conditions for learning or teaching new things
- the ability to use your initiative (drive)
- customer service skills
- the ability to come up with new ways of doing things (creativity)
- to be flexible and open to change (adaptability skills)
- the ability to work well with others (teamwork skills)
Entry Requirements:
Becoming an online tutor doesn’t have strict requirements, but having a solid academic foundation can certainly enhance your qualifications. Here are suggested subjects that can be beneficial for someone aspiring to become an online tutor:
- English Language: Proficiency in English is essential for effective communication, which is a key aspect of tutoring.
- Mathematics: Depending on the subjects you intend to tutor, a good grasp of mathematics can be very beneficial, especially for subjects like math and science.
- Science (if relevant to your tutoring subjects): If you plan to tutor in science-related subjects, having a background in science can be advantageous.
- Any Subject of Interest or Specialisation: If you plan to tutor in a specific subject, having taken courses in that subject or related subjects is beneficial.
Post School
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- working towards this role
- applying directly
- private training
University
You may need a degree in a specialist subject depending on the level of course you plan to teach online. For example, a degree in maths to teach high level/ A level maths.
You might also need to get qualified teacher status (QTS) if you’re teaching academic qualifications. Some degrees include this.
If you have a degree in a subject without QTS, you can get it by completing one of the following:
- a postgraduate teacher training course at university
- a school-based training programme
College
You could do a college course in Education and Training to get some of the skills needed for this job. This is suitable if you’re not yet in a teaching role or have limited teaching hours.
Work
You can usually take qualifications while you work. The exact qualification you do will depend on your job but could include:
- Diploma in Education and Training (Level 4 Certificate and Level 5 in the UK)
Direct Application
You can apply to companies directly if you’ve got the following:
- excellent IT skills
- teaching, training or tutoring experience
- in-depth knowledge of the subject you’re going to teach
Other Routes
You can do a course with a private training provider, and some of these can be done online. You should check courses carefully to make sure they meet your needs.
Restrictions and Requirements
You’ll need to pass enhanced background checks
Working Hours and Environment:
Your typical working hours could be variable.
You could work from home.
Career Path & Progression:
You could move into other areas of online education, like:
- course development
- management
- private tuition
- consultancy