From pen and paper to mouse and screen, accessing learning online has never been easier. Online learning for high school students is not an entirely new phenomenon, but in a post-Covid educational environment, learning in the virtual space is the new normal.
Photo by Julia M Cameron: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-child-sitting-by-the-table-while-looking-at-the-imac-4145153/
Since the 1990s, remote learning has existed in one form or another in Australia – from the School of the Air in remote areas, to distance education run by state governments for students who cannot attend school in person.
Aided by the internet, online learning exists in many forms. Text and video resources to explain curriculum content can be freely accessed on YouTube or through a paid subscription services. AI tools like NSWEduChat are even being rolled out in high schools across New South Wales. Interactive websites, mobile apps and digital platforms are quickly becoming a fundamental part of the future of education.
Tutoring, as a service which seeks to enrich the educational experience of students, has quickly adapted to the rising demand for digitally mediated and connected learning. Let’s see why.
1. Online learning harnesses a medium native to modern students
The digital revolution as we know it today began back in the 1980s, when less than 1% of the world's technologically stored information was held in a digital format. By 2012, this reached 99%, completely changing the way we access knowledge, and by extension, education.
Students of today are ‘digital natives’, born into an era where internet use is ubiquitous.
It’s only natural, then, that these students are drawn to online tutoring which harnesses the multimedia technology with which they are familiar, along with new AI software which they
are quickly adopting.
This demand for online education has stimulated a rise in educational technology, or EdTech. In fact, the EdTech sector in Australia has doubled in size since 2015. Just last year, there were over 700 providers, mainly operating in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Understanding this growing preference, several private schools have even implemented online learning for senior students, offering a learning-from-home day every week to their students. To cater to the growing preference for online learning and to continue meeting the needs of students on their education journey, agile tutoring centres are also offering fully online or hybrid models of education.
2. Online learning enhances personalised education
Online learning is a core part of the new normal in tutoring for good reason – a beneficial tutoring experience is one which is personalised to the needs, interests and learning styles of students. Online learning with a dedicated tutor facilitates this experience which is notoriously difficult to achieve in-person at school.
Photo by The University of Sydney: https://www.sydney.edu.au/content/dam/people/students/eddie-woo-wonderful.jpg
Digital resources in asynchronous learning which allow students to learn at their own pace, taking breaks when necessary and delving deeper into content when they wish, makes the learning experience more valuable for students.
Take everyone’s favourite NSW Maths teacher turned famous YouTuber and author, Mr Eddie Woo (@misterwootube), and his online learning platform Wootube. With over 1.8 million subscribers, Woo offers short, easy to understand lessons.
By virtue of the online video platform, students can pause and take a break whenever they need to or quickly search through Woo’s extensive library of free videos for further explanation.
Online tutoring boosts the benefits of e-learning by harnessing the power of face-to-face tutoring, facilitating easy access to digital content whilst ensuring students continue to receive highly personalised teaching which is proven to facilitate student success.
3. Online learning supports and empowers students to drive independent learning
In a post-Covid world where hybrid and online tertiary education and employment models are commonplace, students who can drive their own independent learning will be better-equipped to hit the ground running after graduation.
Tutoring centres, as spaces for the holistic education of students, are highly cognizant of the role they can play in supporting and empowering students to take ownership of their own learning.
Given the rise in freely accessible education content, across Google, YouTube and even TikTok, it can be easy for students to become overwhelmed with information, unsure of what is relevant to them or how to fact check what they are seeing. This is where a well-managed online learning platform and the support of an online tutor who can guide students to reputable resources are invaluable to the growth of their digital literacy
and ability to learn in our digital world.
Having an e-mentor also empowers students to be:
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More likely to outperform other online students since their self-regulated online learning is guided by a personalised learning approach
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Able to cultivate adaptability through guided exposure to the digital learning environment where adaptability is a key skill for success
Whilst students are physically distanced from their tutors in digitally-mediated learning, this does not mean that they do not receive the same level of support. In fact, the opposite is true. Online tutoring students actually have greater access to their tutors via direct messaging and contact between classes. Online students are more connected than before, with the ability to receive reminders and access resources easily via the online tutoring platform.
E-learning is the future of tutoring
Clearly, the support that tutoring provides to students is enhanced, not lost, in e-learning
The education landscape is constantly evolving and students are increasingly seeking learning support and mentorship within our digitally connected world.
With the benefits of being able to learn at your own pace and develop increasingly important skills like independent learning, adaptability and digital literacy, with greater touchpoints for accountability and connection, choosing online tutoring is the way to go for many students today.
At OpenWisdom, we’re beyond excited to announce that we’re driving the digital revolution of tutoring at our centre with the upcoming release of our new online learning platform. We’re keen to help you realise your potential and grow using the medium you already know and love.
Written by Olivia Di Costanzo
Liv is an experienced high school English tutor with a passion for helping prepare students for life beyond the classroom. She has recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Digital Cultures) and Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Media and Communications) from The University of Sydney.
