Learn how to create a positive and effective online tutoring experience for diverse students. Find out how to choose the right tools, plan your sessions, and address diversity and inclusion.

An example of engaging the diverse learners from different ethnicities or race is to use relevant examples from their familiar culture or region. For differently abled, one can use variety of technologies to ensure that they can ‘hear’ or ‘see’ everything… voice over and captions for pictures is a must. Attention must be paid to the content design as well. It should be sensitive to the needs and sentiments of the students.

Technology is a great enabler, you can also find out if any student has disabilities and they need specific accommodations for accessing learning resources. Allow students to use or adapt their learning methodologies when you are tutoring them.

How can you make online tutoring accessible to diverse students?

Online tutoring can be a great way to support students' learning in a flexible and personalized way, but it also comes with some challenges. How can you make sure that your online tutoring sessions are accessible, engaging, and inclusive for diverse students? Here are some tips to help you create a positive and effective online tutoring experience.

1 Know your students

Before you start tutoring, find out as much as you can about your students' backgrounds, learning preferences, goals, and challenges. This will help you tailor your tutoring sessions to their needs and interests, and also build rapport and trust. You can use surveys, interviews, or pre-assessments to gather this information, and also ask for feedback regularly to adjust your tutoring strategies.

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Sasmita M.

Director, Modulyst Learning Pvt Ltd | We design and offer learning experiences that people love
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An example of engaging the diverse learners from different ethnicities or race is to use relevant examples from their familiar culture or region. For differently abled, one can use variety of technologies to ensure that they can ‘hear’ or ‘see’ everything… voice over and captions for pictures is a must. Attention must be paid to the content design as well. It should be sensitive to the needs and sentiments of the students.

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Geetanjali Malshe

L&D l Talent Management I OD I Parent Advocate for Specific Learning Disabilities in Children
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Technology is a great enabler, you can also find out if any student has disabilities and they need specific accommodations for accessing learning resources. Allow students to use or adapt their learning methodologies when you are tutoring them.

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Adam Currie CIPD

Senior Global Learning Experience Manager @ Too Good To Go | Instructional Design
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1. Use a variety of digital tools and formats to accommodate different learning styles. 2. Provide clear instructions, and regularly check for understanding. 3. Encourage participation from all students and create a respectful and inclusive environment for discussions.

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Anees Rahman

Chemistry Educator & Researcher | Master's in Chemistry | IISER Mohali | Science & Technology Enthusiast | Actively Seeking Opportunities
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Providing different platforms like YouTube and various video conferencing platforms and building a user-friendly mobile interface for tutoring sessions can help students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.

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2 Choose the right tools

Online tutoring requires using various tools and platforms to communicate, share, and collaborate with your students. You need to consider the accessibility, usability, and compatibility of these tools, as well as the availability and reliability of internet connection and devices for your students. You can use tools that have features such as captions, transcripts, audio and video options, chat and annotation functions, and interactive elements. You can also provide alternative formats and modes of delivery for your materials and activities, such as text, audio, video, or images.

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3 Plan and structure your sessions

Online tutoring sessions need to be well-planned and structured to avoid confusion, frustration, and boredom. You can use a clear and consistent format for your sessions, such as a warm-up, a review, a main activity, and a wrap-up. You can also set and communicate the learning objectives, expectations, and outcomes for each session, and provide a summary and a follow-up at the end. You can also use a variety of methods and resources to deliver your content and engage your students, such as demonstrations, explanations, examples, questions, discussions, quizzes, games, or projects.

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4 Create a supportive environment

Online tutoring can be challenging for some students who may feel isolated, anxious, or distracted. You can create a supportive and positive environment for your online tutoring sessions by establishing rapport, showing empathy, giving praise and encouragement, and offering guidance and feedback. You can also use strategies such as icebreakers, check-ins, humor, stories, or personalization to make your sessions more fun and relatable. You can also encourage your students to interact with you and with each other, and to share their opinions, questions, and experiences.

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Siddhee Pungaliya

Learning and Development | Digital Learning | Learning Experience Design | Learning Consultant
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While the synchronous learning is the primary medium, the collaboration and the communication outside the live sessions can help the students to catch-up, add ideas, bond, learn and share. You could think about create communities and groups on a platform that is feasible and accessible to the group.

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5 Address diversity and inclusion

Online tutoring can be an opportunity to celebrate and respect the diversity and inclusion of your students. You can do this by acknowledging and valuing their cultural, linguistic, social, and personal backgrounds, perspectives, and identities. You can also use inclusive language, examples, materials, and activities that reflect and represent your students' diversity. You can also avoid stereotypes, biases, or assumptions that may harm or exclude your students. You can also promote a culture of openness, curiosity, and respect among your students.

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6 Evaluate and improve your practice

Online tutoring is a dynamic and evolving practice that requires constant evaluation and improvement. You can use various tools and methods to assess your students' learning outcomes, progress, and satisfaction, such as tests, portfolios, rubrics, surveys, or interviews. You can also reflect on your own performance, strengths, and areas of improvement as an online tutor, and seek feedback from your students, peers, or mentors. You can also keep learning and updating your skills and knowledge as an online tutor, and explore new tools, techniques, and trends in online tutoring.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you make online tutoring accessible to diverse students?

1

2

3

4

5

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1 Know your students

2 Choose the right tools

3 Plan and structure your sessions

4 Create a supportive environment

5 Address diversity and inclusion

6 Evaluate and improve your practice

7 Here’s what else to consider

Digital Learning

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How can you make online tutoring accessible to diverse students?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Know your students

2 Choose the right tools

3 Plan and structure your sessions

4 Create a supportive environment

5 Address diversity and inclusion

6 Evaluate and improve your practice

7 Here’s what else to consider

Digital Learning

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