It is safe to say that technology has changed the way we learn and absorb information in our everyday lives. To be a successful online maths tutor, you must be able to utilize technology in a way that will benefit your students. It has the power to make learning more engaging, efficient, and even fun! In this article, we’ll explore seven ways technology can improve the online maths tutoring experience for both educators and learners.
1. Virtual Whiteboards
An online whiteboard is a fantastic way to improve clarity and visual aids during an online maths lesson. It also allows the maths tutor and student to easily collaborate on solving problems together. When explaining a new concept visually, a virtual whiteboard allows the tutor to draw diagrams, write down steps and explain the concept in a way that is easy for the student to understand. In addition, an online whiteboard can be saved and shared with the student after the lesson, so they can refer back to it later.
2. Online Maths Games
There are many online maths games available that can be used to help students learn and practice their maths skills. These games can be used as a supplement to an online lesson or as a way to provide extra practice outside of the lesson. From interactive platforms like Prodigy to online flash games, there are many options available to suit different learning styles. When learning Maths through play, the major benefit is that it can take the pressure off and make the learning process more enjoyable for the student.
3. Quizzes and Assessments
Quizzes and assessments are a great way to measure a student’s understanding of a concept. They can also be used to identify any areas that need improvement. Online quizzes can be created easily with programs like Kahoot, Quizizz, and Quizlet. These quizzes can be shared with the student via email or a link, and they can be completed in their own time. Assessment tools like Khan Academy also offer comprehensive online assessments and diagnostics for students to complete.
4. Screen Sharing
Screen sharing is a useful tool that allows the maths tutor to share their screen with the student during an online lesson. This can be used to demonstrate how to solve a problem, show a worked example, or provide step-by-step instructions. It is also a helpful way to check to understand, as the tutor can see exactly what the student is doing on their screen. To use screen sharing, both the tutor and student will need to download a screen sharing program like Skype or utilize a platform like Google Meet.
5. Adaptive Tasks
Adaptive tasks are a great way to provide students with differentiated learning experiences. When it comes to Maths, some students need to catch up, while others are looking to excel beyond their classwork. These tasks are designed to adjust in difficulty based on the student’s responses. This allows the student to work at their own pace and level, ensuring that they are challenging themselves without becoming overwhelmed. There are many adaptive task platforms available, such as Mathspace, which can enhance the effectiveness of an online maths lesson, resulting in students who are more motivated and confident.
6. Personalised Lessons
Technology has revolutionized the way maths tutoring can be customized. There are now many online platforms and apps that allow you to create personalized lessons for your students. This means that you can tailor the content, pace, and difficulty of the lesson to suit each individual student’s needs. This is an extremely effective way to improve understanding and ensure that every student is getting the most out of their maths lessons.
7. Ongoing Feedback
It is important to provide ongoing feedback to students during an online maths lesson in order to gauge their understanding and identify any areas that need improvement. This can be done verbally, through written comments, or by using digital annotations. There are also many online tools that allow you to provide instant feedback, such as Google Classroom and Microsoft OneNote. These tools can be used to give students real-time feedback on their maths homework, which can help them to understand concepts more quickly and improve their overall performance.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to online mathematics tutoring, technology can be used in a number of ways to improve the learning process for students of all levels. From adaptive tasks and personalized lessons to ongoing feedback and screen sharing, there are many ways to utilize technology to enhance the effectiveness of an online maths lesson. By utilizing these tools, you can ensure that your students are engaged, inspired, and confident in their mathematical ability.
