Online Tutoring Communication

Online Tutoring communication is best via FaceTime or Google Meet. Those are your two best options. Use your phone only in an emergency. Or Zoom fatigue. Or during a bad hair day.

FaceTime For Online Tutoring Communication

If you have FaceTime and are comfortable using it, definitely use it. It’s seamless, easy, and effective. FaceTime is the best choice by far for communicating during your sessions.

Before your first session, you can have an onboarding session. It is free once you have paid for your introductory session. You’ll just have your onboarding session a day or so before your first session.

During your 10-15 minute onboarding session, we can check to make sure your technology is working. That way, you won’t be anxious about the tech details. The math can cause enough anxiety. We don’t need to add to that.

How I’ll Contact You For Your FaceTime Onboarding Session

For your free FaceTime onboarding session, I’ll FaceTime you as I’m Facetiming through a MacBook Pro. You can text me your phone number beforehand. Once we are Facetiming, please take a moment to save me to your FT contact list. For all your subsequent paid sessions, you’ll FaceTime me.

You might want to use earbuds, wired or wireless. Communicating small details is important in your math work. So, too, are sighs and scoffs. That’s ok. It’s all part of your communication and I want to hear it. Please use earbuds. Don’t worry. I’ll be using earbuds myself.

One last note about FaceTime: You don’t need an iPhone for this. You can use a MacBook, MacBook Air, Mac mini, or iMac. Basically, any Mac device with a camera can be used. You’d just use an email address as your contact number.

Google Meet For Online Tutoring

Google Meet is your next best option. If you don’t have an Apple device of any kind, it’s your best option. For Google Meet, you need only a Gmail address. You can use your laptop, tablet, or phone. Just be sure you’re logged into your Gmail address.

Before your first session, you can have an onboarding session. It is free once you have paid for your introductory session. You’ll just have your onboarding session a day or so before your first session.

During your 10-15 minute onboarding session, we can check to make sure your technology is working. That way, you won’t be anxious about the tech details. The math can cause enough anxiety. We don’t need to add to that.

How I’ll Contact You For Your Google Meet Onboarding Session

For your free onboarding session, I’ll contact you. Before this, you’ll email me through your Gmail address. During your actual Google Meet onboarding session, save my Gmail address to your contacts. That way, you can contact me using Google Meet for your subsequent paid sessions. You’ll initiate Google Meet for communicating as I’ll likely have another student immediately before or after your online math tutoring session.

If possible, use an earbud. That way, you can be assured of clear communication. It’s not just your words I want to hear. Your sighs and scoffs are just as important. They help me to understand whether or not you understand. Or, are frustrated and need a moment to take a mental timeout. That’s fine. If it’s any consolation, I’ll be using an earbud as well during your sessions.

Your Phone For Online Tutoring Communication

If you have no other options, you can use your phone for online tutoring communication. This applies to students in 10th grade and above. If you’re below 10th grade, you need to be seen. It’s easier to engage that way.

However, if you’re in 10th grade or above, you can use a phone. Preferably, we will have some FaceTime or Google Meet sessions prior to this. Being able to see each other’s faces is more engaging. It definitely helps to establish rapport and help us feel comfortable communicating and working with one another.

Since Covid, though, most of you are Zooming a lot. Too much. As a result, you might have Zoom fatigue. Or, you might just be having a bad hair day. If this describes you and we have already had a few sessions seeing each other’s face, you can take a break. Just be certain to text me ahead of time that you want to communicate via phone. If I’m used to you Facetiming or Google Meeting me through my MBP, I won’t be looking at my phone for your call.

Summary

FaceTime is best for online tutoring communication. Google Meet is next. Your phone is your last resort.

If you plan to use your phone, text me in advance. I need to know to expect a call. Unlike most of the world, I put my phone away when working. Only when I’m expecting a call or a text do I look at it. And my ringer is almost always off.

So, please text or email me in advance of initiating a phone call for your online math tutoring session.

Thanks. And good luck!

Martin

By Martin

Martin McSweeney is a National Merit Finalist, Pomona College Graduate, and member of MENSA. He has worked at the Center for Talented Youth (Loyola Marymount University campus); Upward Bound (Harvey Mudd campus); various test prep companies; and Whittier High School. Now, Martin helps students of all abilities improve their relationship with math.