"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." -William Arthur Ward

Can you think back on your favourite teacher that you had in primary or secondary school? Why were they your favourite teacher? What did they do that inspired you to succeed? While you meditate on those questions and think about your answers, it's worth stating that we've all been affected, either positively or negatively, by educators.

The best educators were the ones that were able to help us get through the tough concepts and academic disciplines. Whether it was maths, sciences, history, or a foreign language, the struggle was real and we were extremely thankful to our tutors for the kindness and special attention that they showed us.

And, if your classroom teacher wasn't able to assist you as much as they liked, there might have been a private tutor that greatly helped you to become a better student. To prevent your brain from reaching a point of despair and from letting a mental fog come over you, your tutor was there to comfort you and prevent frustration from creeping in.

In today's article, we shall consider an aspect of tuition known as "micro-tutoring" and see whether it has merit. Let's get learning!

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Why Hire a Private Tutor?

the aha moment
Private tutors help their students have multiple lightbulb moments and have them finally understand things. (Source: Unsplash)

You're stumbling to understand the subject matter at hand but, then there's a eureka moment where it all clicks, and you finally get what you're learning! But, how's that? Because of the careful assistance of your private tutor. The following are a few situations that merit hiring a private tutor:

  • Personal instructors shining beacons that stand out during moments when parents, classmates, or teachers don't step in to help.
  • Private instructors provide the behind the scenes instruction when presenting projects and assignments so that you don't look stupid in front of the class.
  • Private tuition is tailor-made for students who prefer a one-on-one connection with their instructor.
  • If you're struggling to stay on top of things, private tutors have helpful suggestions to keep you organized.

Aren't the previously mentioned reasons enough to convince you to hire or become a personal educator? We sure hope so!

However, it's worth stating that parents don't always have the quid for hiring multiple private tutors to get you through maths, sciences, history, and English literature. Also, tutors aren't always in the nearest cupboard ready to come out and assist you at your earliest convenience. So, what can be done? Have you ever thought of micro-tutoring? Keep on reading to discover what that is!

What is Micro-Tutoring?

If you've been a tutor for quite a few years, you're probably constantly looking for ways to improve your techniques and implement new teaching methods that will make things feel fresh for both you and your students. So, why don't you consider offering micro-tutoring lessons? What's that?

Micro-tutoring takes two words, micro, meaning extremely small, and tutoring, signifying to educate or instruct and combines them together to create a key concept that is raising in popularity in recent years. Therefore, in the simplest of definitions, micro-tutoring breaks down conventional tutoring sessions into smaller bite-size chunks that are easier to digest and better for learning new concepts.

Instead of offering full-hour tutoring sessions or more, private educators may provide quick lessons that cover only a few core concepts rather than an entire topic or academic discipline. Micro-tutoring training sessions are an easy channel for students to get the academic help they need without having to schedule a full learning course.

Before concluding this section, it's important to mention that Studypool is widely regarded as the pioneer of micro-tutoring since it's a website that provides 24/7 homework help to students across the UK and other countries around the world. By using Studypool students are accessing micro-tutoring and Q&A learning.

What are the Benefits of Micro-Tutoring?

finding money
Micro-tutoring is an attractive option for parents who don't want to overspend. (Source: Unsplash)

Now that we've determined what the definition of micro-tutoring is, let's answer the question: what are its benefits? Let's consider the following list to see the advantages:

  • Micro-tutoring is cost-effective: to shell out the complete fee for a full lesson when students only need a concept or two explained, might be a little bit steep for most parents. Therefore, micro tutoring is a cost-effective option since it costs less.
  • Micro-tutoring is less time-consuming: let's say all you need is the answer to one question and nothing else, you probably don't want to waste time with an hour-long tutoring session with a qualified instructor. Therefore, micro-tutoring on sites such as Studypool is perfect since all you need to do is post a question, connect with a tutor, and get the explanation and answer.
  • Micro-tutoring uses modern technology: when using micro-tutoring, students are utilising the most up-to-date technology systems such as videoconferencing, learning apps and software, digital whiteboards, and interactive elements such as games and videos. Micro-tutors use technology to make every moment of the lesson count!

With so many benefits, are there any drawbacks to micro-tutoring? Actually, the primary downside of micro, bite-sized tutoring is for the tutors themselves. How's that? They're not necessarily getting the repeat clientele that will help them stay in business. And, unless they have plenty of micro-tutoring students, it'll be hard to make ends meet as a private tutor.

Where Can You Become a Tutor in the UK?

hiring a private tutor
With so many tutoring sites available, you might be asking, where can I find the best private educators? (Source: Unsplash)

If you're new to the tutoring game and have never quite decided how you will find work, it's worth stating that, thankfully, there is a plethora of ways to market yourself as a tutor. The following are a few valid options where you can advertise your tutoring services:

  • On bulletin boards at schools, universities, and other public areas, 
  • Through word of mouth; talk about what you offer and network with as many people as possible, 
  • On classified websites, 
  • On tutoring sites such as Superprof where you can set up a profile and schedule students ASAP. 

While all of the previously stated ways to get new clients as a tutor are valid, it's worth mentioning that marketing yourself on a tutoring site is a slam-dunk. But, which website should I choose? That's easy: Superprof. With over 20 million professional instructors from around the world instructing topics that range from basketweaving to maths and sushi making to biology, Superprof is the right place to start.

Tutors, both new and old, appreciate the following unique characteristics of the Superprof experience:

  • An easy-to-use website that allows you to create a profile with available timeslots and a simple description of your teaching style,
  • The possibility to offer students both in-person and virtual tuition, 
  • A helpful support staff that is ready to answer questions and resolve any potential issues. 

In conclusion, we highly recommend marketing yourself on Superprof as a tutor who offers a variety of lessons such as micro-tutoring. You'll quickly start to welcome plenty of students which will cause you to hone your skills as an educator. Happy teaching!

 

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Join the Superprof community and share your knowledge with interested and motivated students.

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Brentyn

Avid movie-goer, reader, skier and language learner. Passionate about life, food and travelling.