Finding the Right IT Tutor for Your Computer Courses

Finding the Right IT Tutor for Your Computer Courses How to Find a Computer Science Tutor for IT Courses ChaptersFind a Private IT Tutor OnlineIT Tutorials Online: Find Your Tutor on YouTubeIT Courses: Find IT Tutors on Superprof with a Few Clicks!Why Take IT Courses on Your Own via a MOOC?Are you resistant to change and in need of a serious update to your IT knowledge?Do you need to learn how to browse the internet or simply use your computer?Looking for training in cryptography?Whether you learn IT through webcam tutorials or with a private tutor, you’ll learn a lot.Are you already an IT technician and want to learn a new skill, some programming languages, study algorithms, or learn more about IT networks?Taking private tutorials with an experienced programmer on Superprof can help you achieve all this.Why not try out some MOOCs? What’s that?You’ll know the answers to all these questions by the end of this article! CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutor s OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic rea ding Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsFind a Private IT Tutor OnlineThanks to the internet and modern digital technologies, there are plenty of ways to learn basic computer skills on the web.  In fact, there are literally thousands of computer classes online and some quality instruction.However, as the adage goes, in a lot of cases, “you get what you pay for”. When you pay for a private tutor, you can expect a level of professionalism as well as someone who has the necessary knowledge and skills to teach you.Superprof’s got some tips and advice for anyone who wants to take IT courses on office suites (like Microsoft Office and Apache's Open Office), installing IT hardware, developing apps, learning about computer hardware, or learning more about coding.You can search for tutors anywhere in the country and then get in touch with them and organise personalised classes. Whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or advanced user, you'll find tutors specialising in almost anything. You can learn computer and IT skills and more about topics such as:IT TroubleshootingComputer literacy for seniors, using the mouse and keyboard, turning the computer off and on.Internet basics for beginners, how to navigate a web site, opening and closing tabs, etc.Maintenance tasks.Workforce trainingOffice suites, Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, giving a presentation in PowerPoint, how to create a spreadsheet in Excel.Check for the best programming courses to upgrade your coding skill.There are so many people online offering tech support that it can be difficult to choose someone to fix your computer. (Source: stock.tookapic.com)Always be careful when contacting tutors directly without a third party. You should agree upfront about how you’re going to pay them  and make sure that you can find trustw orthy reviews of them.The best tutors will have plenty of stellar reviews and former students who’ll vouch for them. The tutor’s price should reflect their qualifications, experience, and teaching style. You can expect to pay more if the tutor comes to you and they might suggest a central meeting point if you’re both quite a distance from one another.If you're new to computers, you should make sure you have the right equipment for your IT tutorials.IT Tutorials Online: Find Your Tutor on YouTubeWhile there are plenty of IT tutorials available, you’ll have to separate the wheat from the chaff in order to get the most out of these platforms.You can use the number of views to indicate how popular the tutorials are. A video with thousands of views will probably be more useful than a video with a handful (especially if both have been on the site for a number of years). You can also quickly check the “likes” of the video and the comments to see if others found the video useful .On YouTube, you can find tonnes of videos on computer basics like:The basics like using a mouse and keyboard, typing, using your operating system, and turning your computer off and on.Using the Microsoft Office suite, word processing in Microsoft Word, creating a spreadsheet in Excel, using PowerPoint to give presentations, etc.Fundamental maintenance tasks like emptying the recylcle bin, organising your desktop,Digital literacy for senior citizens, computer training for the elderly, etc.Basic skills like browsing the internet, searching on Google, opening and closing tabs.Making and editing videos using Adobe Premier.There are videos that have been watched literally thousands of times.There are videos on learning how to use HTML and CSS for making and editing websites. While the quality of these videos can vary wildly, there are a lot of diamonds in the rough. There are specialists in HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP, MySQL, SEO, WordPress, and Prestashop so you’re bound to find what you need.Learning to code can be useful for making programmes, apps, and websites. (Source: negativespace.co)Whether you’re making your own website or are looking to make your own online business, there’s definitely a video tutorial that will help you.Before you head to YouTube, make sure you have the right equipment to get the most out of your classes:A computer with enough memory to play the videos without any problems.A high-speed internet connection (such as a fibre optic connection, where available)A quality headset or headphones so that you can listen to the videos in public spaces or coworking offices, etc.Think about getting yourself a notepad or book if you’re not used to working with word processors or taking notes digitally.IT Courses: Find IT Tutors on Superprof with a Few Clicks!With computing tutors up and down the country (not to mention all the tutors around the world offering tutorials via webcam), no matter what you want to learn to do, you'll be able to find an instructor to help you. There’s a huge variety of specialists offering courses in a range of different domains:How a computer worksArchitectureRepairing computersWeb developmentCryptographyLearning how to use certain programmes (Excel, Word, Illustrator, InDesign, MySQL, etc.)Java ProgrammingRemember to check that your tutor is also a quality teacher by checking the comments and reviews left by their current and former students and see what kind of resources they use and the teaching methods they employ.Don’t forget that there are plenty of tutors providing tutorials over webcam if you have a hectic schedule and struggle to find an hour for your lessons.The price of private tutorials can vary wildly. While some of the cheapest tutorials only cost around £10 per hour, they can go up to £50 per hour for tutorials covering programming in Python, for example.There are a lot of tutors in London. However, they tend to cost more than tutors elsewhere in the computer. (Source: neg ativespace.co)IT tutorials (in London, at least) cost £24 per hour on average but are cheaper in other parts of the country, ( £18 per hour in Edinburgh and Cardiff and £19 per hour in Manchester, for example). There are also tutors offering programming courses in languages such as C++, Python, Java, Scilab, Fortran, Mathlab, as well as algorithms used to develop apps.Why Take IT Courses on Your Own via a MOOC?MOOCs (Massive Open Online Course) are distance learning courses that can have plenty of students enrolled on them via an online digital platform with computer courses often provided by a university professor.The famous American university MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in Boston provides free classes on their YouTube channel with plenty of videos filmed in their lecture halls covering a series of different scientific subjects.MIT OpenCourseWare (1.2 million subscribers) has also put plenty of video courses online covering maths, physics, and IT.Their 53-minute lecture “Introduction to Computer Science and Programming” has been watched over 3 million times on YouTube.Watching these videos by MIT and learning more about physics, maths, and IT from some of the world’s best professors is pretty great, isn’t it?Keep in mind that MIT isn’t the only university offering these types of courses, either.There are plenty of free courses on these MOOCs from tonnes of Ivy League universities as well as other universities around the world. There are literally hundreds of hours of video tutorials available as well as the platforms themselves which you can use to talk to professors and other students. Of course, these courses are 100% online, meaning that as long as you have an internet connection, you can learn.The geek shall inherit the earth. (Source: Clem Onojeghuo)When it comes to MOOCs, there are a few that stand out. Udacity, which was founded in 2012, now has over 1 million users and a number of free courses.You can learn about web devel opment, data analysis, working with iOS or Android app development, machine learning, and plenty of other fields in computer science. With how popular big data is at the minute, it might be worthwhile having a look at their courses on data analysis. That said, there are so many courses, you could even consider supplementing private tutorials with some of these courses.Coursera is another important MOOC and was founded by a couple of computer science lecturers at Stanford University in 2012. It currently has over 24 million users and around 2,000 courses.As you can imagine, thanks to its background in computer science, there’s no lack of courses for budding IT professionals. Some of their most popular courses include technical support, data science in python, machine learning, algorithms, programming languages, and data science.The last platform we’d like to look at isn’t actually a MOOC but is rather useful for anyone wanting to code. Codeacademy is an educational platform tha t was set up in 2011 and now has 25 million users learning programming and coding.The platform is a series of lessons, tutorials, and interactive elements to allow you to learn coding and then try out what you’ve learnt.If you want to get started and learn more about computers, you should consider getting private tutorials, which are arguably the most cost-effective way to learn since you’ll have a dedicated educator working for you.For in-home IT tutorials, there are plenty resources on the internet that can help you find an IT expert and experienced educator. For a personalised approach, then you should consider heading over to Superprof and checking out the tutors, their reviews, and finding the best tutor for you.As an added bonus, there are a number of tutors who offer free computer tutoring for the first hour so you can work out your goals, get to know your potential tutor, and see what your level is.

Ask an MBA Admissions Expert Graham Richmond

Ask an MBA Admissions Expert Graham Richmond Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. As he pursued his MBA at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Graham Richmond participated as a student admissions officer where he read hundreds of applications. After graduating from the program, Graham returned to the Wharton Admissions Committee and contributed to the redesigning of the schools admissions process while representing the program at conferences internationally as well. Graham eventually left and co-founded Clear Admit, an MBA Admissions Consulting service, where he has assisted thousands of students with their application processes and has earned an impressive reputation as a leading expert in the field. VT: How much time should be set aside to adequately prepare for and complete the application for an MBA program? Graham: Preparation time in terms of hours or months definitely varies per applicant and based on the application season as a whole, e.g., someone applying to one school in Round 2 (January deadlines) would have a very different application timeline than someone applying to six programs across the first two rounds (October and January deadlines). Applicants also need to account for factors outside the process of drafting the application materials themselvesGMAT or GRE preparation, for instance, varies broadly by applicant and could tack on months of intensive study before an online application form is even made. It would also be worthwhile to account for the time needed to, say, visit a class or tour a schools campus depending on applicants schedules and transportation options. Generally though, since most schools release their application deadlines and essay topics in the spring or summer before the admissions season begins, Id advise applicants to start organizing their application calendars then. Knowing when each application will be due and what it entails is first way to see how much time youll need to prepare. We estimate that our hourly clients work with their Clear Admit counselors for an average of 12 to 15 hours per school, and prospective MBA students should also tack on the time it will take them to initially draft their essays and other materials and complete other requirements, like standardized test scores as noted above. VT: What would you say is the single most important thing to focus on for this kind of application? Graham: Theres no right answer to how to ace an application, and Id say the most important thing for an applicant is to create an honest application that is both error-free, attentive to detail and that really lets the admissions committee get to know who you are (while ideally conveying your excitement for the MBA program in question). Admissions committees are looking to find out a lot about who applicants really are so as to determine how they might fit into a carefully balanced MBA class, and submitting applications that are vague or sloppy wont give the admissions committee much to work with or convince them that youre worth admitting. VT: What do MBA admissions officers look for most in the essay questions? Graham: Admissions officers are definitely looking to get you know you from the essays but also for a few other things. They are looking to see if youve done research on the program and can envision yourself on their campus, and they want to see that you have a good sense of your strengths, weaknesses, and preparedness for an MBA. More basically, they are looking to confirm that applicants can follow directions in the essays and write clear and compelling answers to the essay prompts within the guidelines specified. VT: What are the biggest mistakes one can make on this application? Graham: There are quite a few ways that applicants can send up red flags on their application, and I would say that reusing application materials across multiple applications is the main way candidates get themselves in trouble. Most notorious of course is the mistake of actually leaving in the name of School X when writing an application for School Y, which from my own admissions experience signals a definitely lack of respect for the school that receives the wrong name. In relation to my answer to the question above, not answering the question asked in your essay is another big mistake, and this might indicate to the admissions officer that you were either reusing an essay from another school or just not paying attention when you were drafting quickly. Another common mistake, and one that an admissions consultant could certainly help applicants avoid, would be simple grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors that also convey that applicants have put relatively little effort into their files or do not have the communication skills needed for an MBA. Finally, the use of excessive industry jargon can signal to the admissions committee that the applicant is unable to communicate their experiences in terms that are going to be easily understood by their future classmates. VT: What aspects of the MBA admissions process makes it most different from undergraduate admissions process? Graham: I like to describe MBA admissions as a mix of art and science given the fluid nature of schools selection criteria, and this quality actually makes the process more similar to undergraduate admissions than to say law or medical school applications. One important difference between undergraduate and business school admissions is that most applicants will be drawing heavily from their professional experiences when creating their MBA applications, which obviously doesnt come into play in such a way in undergraduate admissions. VT: Is there anything that automatically disqualifies an applicant from being considered for an MBA program (i.e. low GPA, lack of particular work experience, etc.)? Graham: I would say no, unless for instance an applicant is applying to a program whose stated requirements he or she doesnt meet, e.g., a dual degree program that specifies an undergraduate focus an applicant does not have. Some challenging factors of an applicants profile, however, are easier to resolve than others either before or during the application process, but only direct violations of admission policies are automatic disqualifiers. VT: What kind of work experiences should be highlighted in the MBA application? Graham: This is also something that varies really applicant by applicant. Some schools will state what kind of experience they want to see from prospective students, which is wise to take into account before preparing your application, but there is no single right answer. Generally, for example, leadership experiences are great to highlight, but an applicant who doesnt have an obvious record of quantitative achievements might need to focus more on those experiences instead. The balance of different kinds of experience really varies on an individual basis. VT: What advice do you have regarding GMAT test prep? Graham: There are a lot of different test prep services out there that tailor to a range of learning styles, and applicants test prep range from books to free GMAT tips from various online sources to paid one-on-one tutoring. While certainly not all applicants need to use a GMAT prep service, any applicant who wants to raise his or her score should look into the many different services out there to find one that matches their needs in terms of time commitments, teaching approach, etc. VT: Is it absolutely necessary to have work experience prior to starting an MBA degree? Graham: In a word, no, though this kind of requirement varies across different programs and the vast majority of candidates would definitely be well served to have at least two years of experience at the time they apply. Ive also known some programs to conditionally accept applicants provided they gained a certain amount of professional experience before matriculating, and of course Harvard has formalized this through the HBS 2+2 Program. Business schools really range on this issue, though, and applicants who find they are qualified to apply to their target programs without work experience still face somewhat higher stakes than others in the poolits very important that these applicants can clearly explain how an MBA is the only viable next step in their career despite their lack of work experience. VT: What are the characteristics of a great MBA program? Graham: I encourage applicants looking for a great business school experience to start by examining their own professional and academic needs, as well as their preferred lifestyle and location, to find out what program will be great for them. An MBA program isnt great because of ranking alone, and different applicants will have great fits with different programs. An applicant who wants to design his or her first-year curriculum, for instance, wont fit with the Harvard MBA while an applicant who doesnt like an urban environment isnt going to be happy at Columbia. In the end, a great MBA program has the right combination of curriculum offerings, extracurricular and leadership opportunities, campus experiences and career resources to suit its students, be it an aspiring leader in investment banking or a budding global entrepreneur. Go to ClearAdmit.com for more information and insights from Graham and his team.The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

ESOL Lessons in Cardiff

ESOL Lessons in Cardiff Where Students Go for ESOL Lessons in Cardiff ChaptersTake ESOL Lessons with a Charity OrganisationLearn English as a Foreign Language with a Private CompanyAdult Education at Cardiff and ValeStudents: Learn English Abroad at Cardiff UniversityLanguage Acquisition with SuperprofLanguage is a big deal in Wales’ capital city, for a couple of surprising reasons.In 2017, the Cardiff City Council formulated a Welsh Language Strategy to ensure that that tongue doesn’t die out.Also, they wish to ensure that migrants, refugees and the large foreign student population enroled in Cardiff universities can use the English language to communicate effectively.For these reasons, there are plenty of English courses to choose from.You might wonder why we say those reasons are surprising...Like people of most other nations, the Welsh people are proud of their long history, their culture and heritage.A sterling example of such is the uproar over the 2001 census that led Plaid Cymru to endorse a petition calling for the addition of ‘Welsh’ as a national identity category to the official population count.Seen in that light, it seems strange that such a people would forego their native language but it was obviously happening!The second strange aspect is the issue of immigrants and refugees: Cardiff is not the first name that comes to mind when one thinks of cities with an ethnically diverse population... but that assumption would be incorrect!Nearly 15% of Cardiff’s population hails from other nations; a fact that the city celebrates through cultural events and festivals throughout the year.All of those people had to at least polish up their English language skills somewhere, if not learn English altogether... right?Let us now introduce you to some of those classes and meet the great teachers whose passion is language teaching.If you want to learn online you can find an English course online with Superprof.Here, we feature the top two such concerns.Oasis CardiffTheir mission is to help asylum seekers and refugees sett le in and integrate into the local community. Therefore, it stands to reason that teaching English skills is one of their highest priorities.In fact, they aver that those English classes are their biggest draw.Ever aware of cultural sensitivity, the volunteer language teachers group their English learners not just according to their level of spoken English â€" beginner, intermediate or advanced but also according to their preferences.No worries that these teachers are volunteers; all of them either have long experience teaching or have earned their TEFL certification.In keeping with their mission to help new arrivals integrate and thrive in their new community, they also teach an IELTS prep course.This presents non-native speakers with the opportunity to enrol at university upon satisfactory scoring of that exam so that they might earn credentials for skills they already possess or to retrain for a different field of work altogether.ESOL and IELTS prep sessions are conducted at no c harge, Monday through Friday, from 10:30 to 12:30 and, should you want to volunteer with Oasis as an ESL teacher, you would be more than welcome!Join the discussion: should London make ESOL classes free to immigrants?ACE CardiffContrary to Oasis’ mission, ACE’s primary focus is to aid and support disadvantaged youths in and around Cardiff.Their secondary focus is to work with speakers of other languages.‘In response to an obvious need in the community...’ from the ACESOL web pageTo that end, they have set up several classes, mostly targeted to absolute beginners and beginner learners of English.And, like the organisation mentioned above, cultural sensitivity dictates how their classes are set up: mixed gender or single gender, in small groups (no more than 10 students per session), the scope of which is mainly life skills.Leeds is not quite the destination for immigrants that Cardiff is; find out how people there find ESOL courses.In this sense, the term ‘life skills’ re lates more to the literacy and numeracy aspects of starting life in a new country. Those include:reading - anything from road signs to food labelscounting and performing simple math in Englishconversational English: asking and answering basic questionsHowever, as this charity is overwhelmingly concerned with new arrivals’ wellbeing, they also touch on needed cultural competencies; things like driving on the left and simple courtesies such as eye contact handshakes.ACE runs one ESOL programme on Mondays and Wednesdays in Butetown and another on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at Ely Hub. Each course is generally five weeks long.You are also welcome to volunteer with ACE, either in their ‘vulnerable adults’ programme or their children’s Learning Programme.We did say that these are two of the top charities that teach English as a second language, right?In this table, we feature all of the organisations and people, so generous with their knowledge and time, ready to help anyo ne who wants/needs to learn English.NameAddressPhone NumberEmailCardiff and Vale College27 The Parade, Cardiff CF24 3AB 0292 025 0250 esol@cavc.ac.ukVale of Glamorgan Council 1st Floor, Barry Library, King Square, Barry CF63 4RW 0144 673 6466 vlc@valeofglamorgan.gov.ukWelsh Refugee Council120 -122 Broadway, Cardiff, CF24 1NJ0292 048 9800 iona@wrc.walesSpace4You CardiffTrinity Methodist Church Piercefield Place/ Newport Road Junction CF24 1LE cardiffspace4u@outlook.comAdult Learning Wales7 Coopers Yard, Curran Road CF10 5NB0292 038 2431 courseinfosouth@weacymru.org.ukFind out also if Manchester is continuing its long tradition of welcoming speakers of other languages...Learn English as a Foreign Language with a Private CompanyScoring well on IELTS is one thing; immersion into a different language and culture is something else completely Image by Jess Foami from PixabayThe charitable organisations that provide classes for the newly-arrived have a major selling point over language scho ols: they cost nothing.On the other hand, language schools offer an aspect of language learning that doesn’t necessarily feature elsewhere.Such facilities teach according to students’ needs and preferences, usually in a one-to-one setting or in a small group; maybe a family.It would be a mistake to presume such institutions care less about how their students might get along in society outside the classroom; indeed they too are devoted to teaching life skill and cultural competences.Language International has built an institution around the concept that not everyone in Great Britain is a native English speaker.To that end, they have set up ESOL courses all over England and Wales, as well as Scotland and Northern Ireland.Yes, even in Belfast you can find courses in English as a second language!More specifically, they have partnered with providers of English courses all over the world to provide the best selection of courses without those who need education in English fundamentals struggling to find lessons on their own.Courses range from general English to English for Business, with classes lasting anywhere from a couple of weeks to a year or more. Students aged 16 and older are welcome.Even if you are a native speaker of English, these courses could help you get a better grasp of the intricacies of your first language!How does teaching English as a foreign language differ in Glasgow?David Mark from PixabayStudents: Learn English Abroad at Cardiff UniversityNaturally, not everyone who lands in Cardiff is an asylum seeker.A substantial number of international students who have sat and scored satisfactorily on IELTS are granted admission to Cardiff University.As many ESL teachers would attest, an exam does not really indicate how well anyone can speak and understand English, meaning that many who arrive in our beautiful city find themselves lost when immersed in our language.Accordingly, Cardiff University has set up a variety of programmes to support those st udents; anything from summer sessions to ongoing support while school is in session.Because this guidance is targeted strictly to university students, these programmes’ focus is on academic English, specifically:Pronunciationgeneral reading and writingacademic writingoral communication and listeningEveryday English in relation to university lifeIn addition to those established courses, ESOL students may participate in one-on-one drop-in sessions held every Friday in the Student Union.Furthermore, this school provides a host of online English services. Topics include interactive vocabulary and grammar lessons as well as guidance on academic writing.As you might imagine, these services are most appreciated. However, many students rely on private tuition.Where do English learners in Birmingham they find such tutors?Language Acquisition with SuperprofWould you prefer to take an English course online? How about in the privacy of your own home? Or perhaps you would like a tutor who woul d be willing to meet you while out and about...If you are looking for an ESOL tutor who puts your needs first, Superprof has a tutor for you!You might enjoy taking lessons with Anna, whose glowing student testimonials confirm her status as an ESOL teacher of merit.Or perhaps Muna, with her years of experience in teaching students of other languages English would appeal to you more. Her hourly rate is only £15 and she gives your first hour of instruction for free!In fact, most every Superprof ESOL tutor charges nothing for their first hour, just so that you can see for yourself whether that tutor is right for you.Furthermore, most would either come to your home or meet you â€" out somewhere or online... anything to assure your comfort!And, with an average price of £20 per lesson, it would be hard to think of Superprof ESOL lessons as anything but meant for you.Have you moved beyond basic English? Are you ready for in-depth instruction of this language you’ve pledged to learn?No m atter what level your English is, you now know where to turn to find the language skills you need to cultivate.Now discover everything you need to know about taking ESOL lessons anywhere in the UK...

Online Tutoring Where to Start

Online Tutoring Where to Start Online Tutoring: Tips for Effective Learning ChaptersWhat Can Be Learned Online?Overcoming Obstacles for Successful Online LearningWhat Do You Need to Take Courses Online?Online Tutoring with SuperprofWhere Else Can You Turn for Private Lessons?Top Benefits of Online TutoringAccording to a report published in The Daily Telegraph, a whopping 72% of students in the UK have had private tutoring in preparation for their Common Entrance Exam.A survey done for the Sutton Trust discloses that 24% of all students in Britain have benefited from one on one tutoring at some point during their academic career. That figure jumps to 40% in London.With the proliferation of Internet-based teaching materials and tools such as virtual whiteboard, online tutoring has seen a 500% growth rate over the past year.More and more tutoring centers are riding this wave by helping students improve their study skills online.A few mouse clicks can uncover a certified teacher of practically any discipline from science, math and English to niche skills, offeri ng tutelage online.Let us now discover how we can get help from online tutors.Hint: there is a lot more out there than academia!Overcoming Obstacles for Successful Online LearningIf you are a digital native - someone who has always had the Internet in the palm of your hand,   you may have tried taking lessons online and found them satisfactory.On the other hand, there is a substantial portion of the population who has had less than stellar experiences.The main reasons are:Technical issues: poor or dropped connections, screen freezes and not hearing tutors' instructions clearlyLack of personal connection withe the tutor: this remains a challenge in spite of the relative proximity in age.A large part of effective tutoring is patience, empathy and support - all rather hard to feel from a distanceEffective communication: without being able to read body language and other non-verbal clues, it is more difficult for both the tutor and the student to build a productive learning environmentT utors are supposed to 'be there' for you, right?That very principle begs the question: how can they be there for you if they are not physically there?Fortunately, the best tutors are aware of your sentiments in that regard and they go the extra mile to ensure that you enjoy the most positive learning experience possible.There is new technology on the market seemingly every day that permits you and your tutor to work closely together to reach your learning goals, be they academic, artistic or holistic - understanding nutrition better and learning yoga, to name just two examples of such.Long gone are the days when the only tools in a tutor's arsenal are books and talk!These days, savvy tutors use interactive whiteboards and digital pens; screen sharing functions that are built-in to most videochat software and they recommend their students use Google Docs or Dropbox, rather than email to upload assignments.You may even find that your tutor has built up Quizlet study sets for you to le arn on the go!Quizlet is a web-based learning application that takes a multi-pronged approach to presenting study materials. From any study set you may use their flashcards, the writing quiz to test your knowledge; you may even enjoy playing the games associated with your lessons.You may use such applications online, while sitting at your home computer, or you may download study apps that your tutor recommends so that you may learn on the go!A quality webcam is essential for online learning. Source: Pixabay Credit: VitaminOf the millions of apps floating around cyberspace - more than two hundred thousand of them dedicated academic study, it is likely you will use either  Skype or Google Hangouts,  or a combination of both.You might already be familiar with these  video chat platforms. They are the most commonly used applications for online instruction because they have a screen share function that allows your tutor to see what you are doing while you're doing it.For example, after a vocabulary session during your Spanish lesson, your tutor announces a short dictation exercise. You would engage 'screen share' so that s/he can see what you are typing as you type it.Isn't that convenient?Hangouts provides the additional benefit of allowing several participants to join a conversation.That is an excellent feature that allows your tutor to teach you and a small group of your schoolmates at the same time. How does that help you?For one, you may be more receptive to instruction if your friend is included in your extracurricular learning. For two: your tutor might give you a lower hourly rate!Online learning is no longer the wave of the future; it is here to stay! Source: Pixabay Credit: GeraltOnline Tutoring with SuperprofHistorically, one of the greatest challenges for tutors to overcome was advertising their services in such a way that they would be absolutely indispensable to students' learning. After all, they are teachers, not marketing experts!Unless, of course, they teach marketing, in which case they would be experts!That problem was compounded by the lack of any outlet dedicated to learning that would permit prospective tutors to write an inclusive bio: what their educational background is and all about their teaching experience.Naturally, tutors could and did place adverts in local papers and, later, as online advertising grew in popularity, a well-written ad was sure to get results - especially if it included a picture.Still, those outlets put forth only a little information; not much more than the tutor's name, minimal educational background information; the subject(s) they would tutor in, and contact details.Superprof came online in 2013, effectively giving tutors a way to market their skills effectively and permitting students and their parents a much wider selection of teachers to choose from.Every tutor gets his/her own page to expound on everything from their educational background to their teaching philosophy and methodology.On e glance at any Superprof tutor page will reveal whether they would travel to your home for lessons or welcome you into theirs, and even if they give lessons by webcam - to individuals or in small groups.Perhaps the best part of Superprof tutor pages is that you are treated to reviews left by previous students. These testimonials are meant to help you decide whether that tutor would work well with you, and also speaks to the depth of experience s/he has to offer you.Obviously, you would want to work with a tutor who has a measure of experience in his/her field; one who charges a reasonable rate and who is responsive to your needs. Thanks to Superprof tutor profile pages, you can deduce all of that! Take, for example...Myriam, who is in London on an Erasmus exchange, has been tutoring maths for several years and has earned such a stellar reputation that she has been named a tutoring ambassador!Benjamin teaches English in person (if you live in London) or by webcam, anywhere in the co untry. His students have left him 5-star ratingsAndy works with students who have special needs; he also teaches Mandarin and English to students up to 16 years old. Testimonials indicate that he is a supportive, nurturing and passionate educator!By skimming through tutor profiles on Superprof, you are sure to find at least one tutor who can help you get an academic leg up.Superprof has:Math tutors  â€" KS1-5, SAT, GCSE and A Levels test prepScience tutors â€" biology, chemistry, physics, earth sciencesEnglish tutors â€" vocabulary, grammar, spelling, ESOLForeign languages â€" French, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, German, ItalianComputers and digital technologyEngineering tutors â€" civil, electrical, mechanicalMusic â€" piano, guitar, drums, singingEconomics â€" macro and microeconomics, econometricsStatistics and ProbabilityHistory tutorsArt tutors â€" sculpting, drawing, actingYoga and fitness training tutorsCollege level tutoring in all subjectsYou can even learn how to cook, sew a nd swim  and do yoga while face to face with a Superprof tutor!Should there be any shred of doubt whether any given tutor is the ideal tutor for you, rest assured that most Superprof tutors give their first hour of lessons for free - just to see how well you would work together.With more than a million active tutors registered to the site, Superprof has a tutor for every student, anywhere in the UK.Superprof certifies that every tutor is properly  qualified to teach in his/her field, something you can verify yourself: every tutor page indicates their profile and credentials have been vetted to provide you with the best possible learning experience, in the most capable hands.Don't let the myriad of choices for online tutoring boggle your mind. Source: Pixabay Credit: PezibearWhere Else Can You Turn for Private Lessons?A survey done for the Sutton Trust discloses that 24% of all students in Britain have benefited from one to one tutoring at some point during their academic career. The figure for private tutoring jumps to 40% in London.Where is everyone finding these private lessons from?Tutoring Agencies that offer Private Lessons OnlineKeystone Tutors has a London-based office that provides home tutoring in the city and online tutoring all over the UK. As well as college entrance and national exam preparation, these tutors provide academic support  and homework help from KS1 to GCSE.In addition to videos and instruction via webcam, Keystone tutors use whiteboard  and digital pens to ensure an interactive experience with their tutees.These dedicated tutors include your parents and other caregivers in the learning process by providing them with a monthly report that details:the focus of that month’s tutoringthe form of assessment usedthe student's achievements and areas for further workthe focus for the coming monthSimply Learning Tuition â€" or SLT is a London-based agency that offers online tutoring across the UK. They also provide in home tutoring and lesson s for home-schooled students.This organization functions as an academic consulting agency, performing an initial assessment exam and a family interview, after which they select the tutors most suited to your child's temperament and scholastic needs.SLT embraces standard academic tutoring subjects that reflect national curriculum demands, as well as SAT, GCSE and A Levels test preparation. Their mentorship extends to tutoring at college level and for International Baccalaureate prep.Websites that Provide Tutoring OnlineTLC Live is a tutoring website based in East Anglia and staffed by certified teachers, for students from KS1 to GCSE.Since their inception in 2003, they have worked closely with schools to develop a bespoke curriculum   of supplemental instruction that ties in with national education requirements. Because of their close association with formal learning, they tutor using the most up-to-date classroom textbooks and exam criteria.The Khan Academy is another great learning portal if you are struggling academically.Created in 2005 with the aim of producing online tools for academic support, their site consists of a series of YouTube videos, organised by subject and grade level. There are also exercises that correspond to each lesson as well as a short test for you to take once you feel you have mastered the material in that lesson.Although initially meant just for primary and secondary school students, the utility soon expanded to include college-level study materials. Today, they include tutorials for college graduates, job seekers and young professionals.Their videos are hosted by real teachers with classroom experience and experts in the discrete fields of study.Two aspects of Khan Academy to keep in mind: the site originates in America, meaning the grade levels would be different than our curriculum.If you are looking for videos to get a better understanding of GCSE maths, it might be easier to find the specific topic you are looking for by its ca tegory - calculus or linear equations, for example, than to look for the lesson you need among the 10th grade math videos.Another, more vital distinction to keep in mind: this is not a tutoring website in the sense that a tutor will work with you one on one. It is a video bank replete with admittedly excellent teaching material that you may refer to for an extra boost in understanding the subject material at hand.You may even want to talk it over with your tutor; see what s/he thinks about it!Finding Your Online Tutor Through AdvertsEvery UK city has their own Freeads. You can conduct a search for tutors of subjects you are interested in, from reading and writing to Algebra and Trigonometry. And then, you only need to read through your search results in order to decide who would best suit your learning needs.At Gumtree you can conduct a search by typing in what  you need help with â€" academic, sports or music, and what city you live in. The adverts are listed in no particular order , so it might take a while to find the best tutor.The benefit of these types of tutor adverts, as well as the next few we cover, is that you are virtually guaranteed a tutor who is local to you.Your local newspaper may list tutor for hire adverts! Source: Pixabay Credit: StevePBWhat About Your Local Newspaper?Diversifying is one of the best ways to achieve results, be it in investing, eating and nutrition and, especially in advertising.The best tutors are aware of that fact, so they take a multi-pronged approach to announcing their services -not just online but by other means as well.Even in these digital times, you can still find one to one tutoring services listed in the classified ads section of your local or regional paper. With a bit of time, you may well find a good match to your educational needs.Another reliable tactic tutors employ is posting fliers in high-traffic areas, such as your local newsagents, supermarkets, libraries and community centres.Most such places - cafés and restaurants included, hang bulletin boards expressly for such notices. In fact, you may consider posting an advert there yourself so that tutors may find you!One more means of finding quality tutelage that has little or nothing to do with technology is word of mouth advertising.Let's say your mate has suddenly started getting good marks on his school work. Naturally, you would want to now how he got so good, so fast... right? That's when he tells you about this great tutor he's been working with and passes on that worthy's number.In the digital world, student testimonials serve the same purpose!While it is true that, these days, such approaches could be considered low-tech, do such adverts necessarily mean you will be divorced from your beloved electronics while being tutored?Not at all! As previously mentioned: savvy tutors employ a range of advertising tactics. They are not necessarily a reflection of said tutor's supposed aversion to digital self-promotion; s/he most likely a dvertised online, as well.As you can see, tutoring in general and, specifically  online tutoring services are not difficult to find. But what does all that searching boil down to?Online lessons will not squeeze your wallet! Source: Pixabay Credit: stevepbTop Benefits of Online TutoringThe benefits of tutoring have long been established and acknowledged by the educational community worldwide.Since the advent of the Internet, especially as it became more than an object of curiosity - as it evolved into an integral part of our lives, the inevitable extension to traditional classroom learning  became learning online.That truth is borne out by the number of colleges and universities offering online courses and even entire degree plans online.Likewise, distance learning has become a staple of professional training and continuing education, as well: rather than employees losing valuable time commuting to overcrowded, expensive seminars, they simply log in to their company's training websit e for instruction, right from their work station!The natural complement to online learning is tutoring online.Just as retail outlets are migrating to the digital realm, so too is the business of education - and for many of the same reasons!The benefits of private tutoring online are numerous.Lower Cost; Less Time!Before enlisting the help of a tutor for academic success, perhaps you could benefit from free tutoring.  Taking lessons or seeking homework help online is cost-effective and time-saving, especially because online tutors are particularly adept at delivering quality instruction via webcam.Besides your study materials, you shouldn't need any more than a computer with Internet connexion, a webcam and a headset.Conferencing software allows for several people to be on the same 'call'. The tutor might suggest group learning with his/her other students, who are all studying the same topic and are at approximately the same level as you are.Peer tutoring is a great way to build conf idence while helping others learn.Doing so will save you even more money. Online tutoring in general and Superprof tutors especially are great at giving lower rates to students who participate in group studies.ConvenienceAccording to a study conducted in 2014, average commuting time throughout the UK clocked at 54 minutes per trip. That is nearly a full hour that you could be increasing your competencies. Nearly a full hour tutors to spend traveling rather than instructing.With tutoring live online, the only traffic is what you and you teacher send back and forth... and that's nearly instantaneous!Through online tutoring, geographical restrictions are eliminated.You could join study groups  in Scotland or Wales â€" or any other (English speaking) country with no worries about where to meet or paying extra for your teacher to come to your home.Furthermore, because of the wealth of tutors advertising their services online, you can easily find a tutor  you would like to work with.If yo u live in a remote area or want to learn a niche skill, you are much more likely to find the best tutor  over the web than a home tutor in your corner of the world.Learning in ComfortStudies show that learning is best done in an orderly environment. If you have joined a learning center  online, that orderly space should include the desk you are sitting at and the room it is situated in.However, nothing says you can't benefit from E-tutoring in your pyjamas or other such comfortable garb.Besides, as someone who has never known a world without a digital presence, chances are you are completely at ease using technology and would most likely embrace the use of any educational platform your tutor might suggest.Breaking from Traditional Learning ModelNew studies in cognitive behavior indicate that changing instruction delivery methods can improve how much pupils retain. By engaging in online learning, you eschew the traditional image of teacher-before-student, effectively exposing yoursel f/your child to the very change that top psychologists recommend.By learning from a tutor online, you are embracing the very latest educational theories for success.The latest data conclusively prove that students involved in online learning tend to outperform their peers in scholastic aptitude tests.  Aren't you eager to drop in on your tutor?If I'm searching for tutors near me, I always use Superprof. With over 1000 subjects and 10,000 tutors, you can learn anything you want.

A Student Review of Northwestern University

A Student Review of Northwestern University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Haley is a 2014 graduate of Northwestern University where she earned a Bachelors degree in Asian Studies. She specializes in ACT prep tutoringand Mandarin Chinese tutoringin Chicago. Check out her review of her time at Northwestern University: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Haley: Northwestern Universitys campus runs north to south along Sheridan Road in Evanston, a suburb about 45 minutes north of Chicago. Most students walk from class to class, but others choose to take the shuttles or to bike. It is about one mile from one end of the campus to the other. If you are interested in going to Chicago, the purple line of the El goes right into the city from Evanston, and it is really easy to use. There is also an inter-campus shuttle that takes you from the Evanston campus to the Chicago campus (and drops you right by Michigan Avenue). VT:How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Haley: In general, the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants are very accessible. In the larger introductory classes it can sometimes be hard to schedule one-on-one time with a professor, but if you are proactive, you can make it happen. Otherwise, teaching assistants are happy to help. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Haley: I lived in the all-freshman dorm my first year, and I loved it. There was such a great community feel, as well as a lot of activities and support to make the transition to college as easy as possible. The dining halls are good, and most freshman start with a 13-meal-per-week plan. You can raise or lower the number of meals you have per week, but 13 ended up being perfect for me. I would eat breakfast in my room before class and eat lunch and dinner in the cafeterias! There are also options for meals on the fly at different cafes and convenience stores throughout campus for when you do not have time to sit down to a full meal. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Haley: I think economics and journalism are very well represented and supported. There are a lot of students in these majors, and their needs are well met. I studied Chinese, International Studies, and Global Health because I chose to follow my passions and interests. I loved the classes I took, especially in the Global Health department. I felt as though the faculty were extremely accessible and helpful to mewhether for questions about class or advice on networking. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Haley: I found it very easy to make friends freshman year. You are put in a peer advising group for the first week with an upper classman adviser, which is great. You essentially have a go-to group of friends for the first few weeks. I also lived in the freshman dorm, so I met a lot of my friends through living with them or near them. Greek life plays a big part of social life at Northwestern University, but it is not the only way to make friends or join a group. You do not join houses until January, so there is plenty of time to make solid friendships before then. Choosing a house introduces you to more friends instead of cutting you off from old ones. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Haley: The Career Center is very helpful if you choose to utilize it. In my experience,the more I went and the more I reached out for help, the more I got it. You have to be willing to put in the effort. Reputable companies from a wide variety of fields recruit on campus. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Haley: There are several libraries on campus, as well as study lounges in the dorms, a large student center, and different cafes throughout campus. I chose to most often study in the main library, which has several large main rooms to study in, as well as group study rooms and completely silent towers. During finals the library gets pretty crowded, but I have always been able to find somewhere to sit and study. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Haley: Evanston is a great town for a college to be in. There are a lot of great restaurants, a movie theater, beaches, and stores to shop at. My first few years I rarely ventured into Chicago because I was so content staying on campus and in Evanston. However, my junior and senior years I spent more time in downtown Chicago, and I loved that as well. Northwestern University is in a cool location because you have the college town atmosphere, but you also have the resources of a major city only 30 minutes away. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Haley: There are approximately 9,000 undergraduate students at Northwestern University, which I found to be the perfect size. This meant that every day walking between classes, I would see familiar faces. At the same time, I never ran out of new people to meet. I was generally pleased with the class sizes, but some of the introductory classes can be very large. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Haley: The best class I took at Northwestern University was Campus Catalyst, a business class that pairs you with a local non-profit for a consulting project. The class met twice a week to learn non-profit management, and then we worked on a project with a real client. It was challenging but rewarding, and the end result of providing our non-profit client with solutions to its real problems made all the challenges well worth it! Check out Haleys tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

SAT vs. ACT - which test should you take

SAT vs. ACT - which test should you take One of the most common questions I get from my students is whether they should take the SAT or the ACT.   Frankly, the answer to that question depends on each student’s strengths, weaknesses, and personal preferences.Back in the day, the tests were mostly regional: students on the coasts took the SAT, and those in the middle of the country took the ACT.   Now, though, students all over the country often take both tests.   Colleges accept both the SAT and ACT, so it makes sense for students to try both tests and see which one yields a higher score.There are several major differences between the SAT and the ACT:1) The SAT is more focused on complex problem-solving and critical thinking, and the ACT is more straightforward.   Generaly speaking, students who enjoy solving puzzles and reasoning through complex situations will prefer the style of the SAT.   The ACT is better for students who appreciate straightforward questions, both in math and reading comprehension.2) The ACT has a sci ence section, and the SAT does not.   Now, before you write off the ACT, thinking youve forgotten everything from science class, take heart ACT science is more like reading comprehension with charts and graphs.   Its not an easy section, but you dont need outside science knowledge to get a good score.3) The ACT is faster-paced than the SAT.   Most students feel time pressure on the ACT, especially on the reading comprehension and science sections.   Both sections have 40 questions to complete in 35 minutes.   Timing practice is essential to doing well on the ACT.4) Theres no guessing penalty on the ACT.   The dreaded guessing penalty on the SATmost of my students strongly dislike being penalized for wrong answers.   This doesnt happen on the ACT you just dont get credit for the question.   If the guessing penalty really stresses you out, you might prefer the ACT.5) There are no vocabulary questions on the ACT.   The ACT doesnt have sentence completion vocabulary questions like the SAT does.   If vocab is a big problem for you, you might like the ACT better.   On the other hand, if you have a great vocabulary, this could boost your score on the SAT.6) ACT math covers more trigonometry than SAT math does.   ACT math questions (especially the harder ones) will use basic trig concepts like SOHCAHTOA.   Make sure you understand this concept before taking the ACT.For all the differences between the SAT and ACT, most students end up scoring similarly on both tests. However, some students do much better on one test, which is why we recommend that all students take a practice SAT and ACT and compare the results.   Wed be happy to give you those tests and help you analyze your scores just get in touch with one of our directors at info@ajtutoring.com!

Four Things Students and Tutors Should do AFTER an Initial Tutoring Session

Four Things Students and Tutors Should do AFTER an Initial Tutoring Session Improving Academic Performance As we’ve mentioned, there are many things you can do before the initial tutoring session to get the most out of tutoring. After you have attended your initial tutoring session, there are a few things you should do to ensure that you retain all the information you reviewed. In this blog article, we will discuss four things you should do after the initial tutoring session. Write Summary Notes It can be hard to absorb the lesson content or test-taking strategies your tutor is reviewing while also taking copious notes on the session material during a tutoring session. Because multi-tasking during a tutoring session may take away from you absorbing important material or test-taking strategies, I would recommend focusing on the lesson content during the tutoring session. After you’ve completed your initial tutoring session, be sure to take time to write down notes about test-taking strategies, content knowledge, and tips that your tutor reviewed during the session when everything is still fresh in your head. In fact, as Dr. Barbara Oakley teaches in her popular MOOC “Learning How to Learn: Powerful Mental Tools to Help You Master Tough Subjects,” summarizing in your own words is a powerful strategy for learning new things in general. You are more likely to retain information by summarizing lesson content or test-taking strategies in your own words, than if you copy thin gs down word for word. Practice, Practice, Practice! The age-old adage that there is no better way to absorb, retain, and excel at something than to practice at it as much as possible still holds true today. It may be the case that you quickly understood new content that your tutor reviewed with you. Or perhaps, you were able to quickly absorb and apply a new concept or strategy in your session. Even so, you should still take time to continue practicing using the new strategies or content that you just gained in order to commit it to your memory. Some ways that you can practice using a new test-taking strategy is to complete practice problems on a practice exam. To commit new content knowledge to your memory, try writing out or summarizing the content knowledge, drawing diagrams, or teaching it to someone else. Make sure that you are engaging in “deliberate practice” when completing practice problems. Taking time to focus deeply on what you are doing, why each step matters, and when and how you are making mistakes, is far more powe rful than rote repetition, as noted by the American Psychological Association. Practice new strategies/content knowledge regularly, preferably on a weekly basis until you are completely comfortable with it. Review In order to retain new and old test-taking strategies and content, it is important to review them regularly. Set aside a few minutes a day, or 30 minutes each week to review test-taking strategies and content. Additionally, prior to each tutoring session, take time to review strategies and content so that it’s fresh in your mind during each tutoring session. This will make tutoring sessions flow smoothly, as you can dedicate more time to building on concepts and strategies, rather than spending a chunk of time reviewing strategies and content that you covered in previous tutoring sessions. Complete Homework for the Week It is important to come prepared to each tutoring session, ready to learn new content and strategies. In order to do so, make time to complete any homework assignments or practice problems that your tutor assigned you. If you are having difficulty with the assignment, make sure to jot down your questions and ask your tutor about them during your next tutoring session. Taking the time to complete these four simple tasks after each tutoring session will help to improve your retention of new strategies and content, as well as improve your test scores and academic performance.

Elementary Tutor in Bakersfield, CA

Elementary Tutor in Bakersfield, CA Meet our new Tutor Mr. David P. He lives in Bakersfield, CA and specializes in Elementary Math, Reading, Elementary Science, English, Grammar, Home Schooling Language Art, Study Skills, Geography, History, Algebra, Test Prep: ASVAB, CBEST, GED, PRAXIS. David is a California certificated and credentialed teacher with both classroom and tutoring experience, third grade through adult education. He  has been working for the same district full-time in California for nearly two decades. He  graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with academic honors. David  and other Tutors on TutorZ look forward to hearing from you about your particular tutoring needs. So, feel free to contact  them  if you have any questions or if youre ready to get started.