How Much Should a Tutor Cost?
Rational choice theory in economics assumes that individuals use rational calculations to make rational choices and achieve outcomes that are aligned with their own personal objectives. When it comes to making decisions about tutoring, however, rationality tends to go out the window. We generally understand how to connect standard pricing to durable goods like SUVs and iPhones as well as more fleeting fare like Big Macs and Frappacinos. We also accept–often grudgingly–the hourly rates for common service industries like medicine, law, and home repair. Once we drift from those structured areas into the open country of educational services, though, we fall prey to every awful assumption in the book, the main one being, “No teacher deserves that much an hour.” That arbitrary maximum hourly rate each one of us sets in our heads for fair teacher pay can vary widely. Some of my colleagues charge upwards of $400 per hour…
Students Still Prefer Face-To-Face Instruction
Has the world ever felt smaller than it does today? Wave after wave of technological advancements have rendered distance moot for purposes of rich communication. The telegraph gave way to the telephone, which in turn has ceded ground to a wealth of online platforms that allow people on the other side of the planet to see, hear, and communicate with each other in real time. Suddenly, little details like geographic location don’t seem to matter any more. So why hasn’t education moved entirely online yet? Despite the best laid plans of educational entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, instruction remains a stubbornly geography-restricted endeavor. For every single student willing to explore MOOCs, blended learning platforms, and streaming lessons, you’ll find thousands more sitting in same classrooms as their teachers… and liking it that way. What happened to our grand educational revolution? Simply put, today’s teens still appreciate in-person education. Sure, they’ll happily…
Individual vs. Small-Group Tutoring
In teaching and coaching alike, nothing drives performance like individual attention. Yes, many topics and skills may be learned in a group setting, which is one reason why classes still work in education. However, one tutor or coach working elbow-to-elbow (in-person or live online) can focus on exactly what an individual learner needs to hear in a given moment without leaving other students behind. Even better, tutoring allows certain material to be skimmed or skipped altogether based on existing mastery; why waste time reviewing content a student already knows when so much more remains to be taught? Pacing in a class tends to serve the middle of the pack, with some students struggling to keep up and others bored out of their minds. Tutoring, on the other hand, moves as quickly or as slowly as a student requires, which makes this mode of instruction ideal for those with learning disabilities,…
The Hidden Value of a Tutor
We live in a golden age of self-directed education. Where motivated students once had to entomb themselves in libraries to drink from the font of knowledge, now those thirsty for learning merely need to plug into the web to uncover the secrets of the universe in text, audio, and video formats. Whether you want to know how to change a light switch, fold a cloth napkin into a swan, or solve systems of equations, you’ll have no problem finding free tutorials on that exact topic. Why, then, do we still have schools? While we all tend to get excited about unfettered access to free learning resources, we all still prize–and patronize–teachers, tutors, and coaches. Why pay premiums to attend superior high schools or colleges and dole out additional sums to educational, athletic, and artistic coaches when brand name schools offer free courses online? Obviously, we continue to prioritize live education…
How to Assess Tutors and Test Prep Providers
High stakes testing tends to trigger anxiety in both students and parents alike. High schoolers afraid of exams like the SAT, ACT, APs, or state tests naturally fret about potential performance, but what do parents–mercifully spared from the trauma of test day nightmares–have to worry about? Generally, parents suffer the most stress in finding the right test prep provider. What makes choosing a test prep provider such an important and potentially problematic process? Basically, once you recognize that a systematic combination of practice and coaching is the only real path to substantial score improvement, you may realize how rare programs that provide both elements effectively really are. The right provider can help a motivated student meet or even exceed score goals in a relatively short period of time, while the wrong one will do nothing but waste time, money, and enthusiasm, all of which tend to be in short supply…
What to Do If Your Child Needs a Summer Tutor
School will be coming to an end in just a few short months for most students. However, it is possible that you or your child’s teacher has recognized the need for a summer tutor. Other than helping your child academically, tutoring can, according to Oxford Learning, improve your child’s attitude toward school, encourage self-paced and self-directed learning, improve study habits, raise self-esteem and confidence, help overcome learning obstacles, and increase your child’s ability to manage their learning. Tutoring can be a very positive experience for your child as long as you understand the process and know how to choose the tutoring option that’s best for you and your child. Know the Signs Incomplete assignments, low grades, and low confidence are just a few of the signs to watch out for. Most parents have to remind their child to complete their homework or assignments, but according to Brain Balance Centers, your…