How can you make online tutoring accessible to diverse students?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?