How to Stay Present and Engaged with Your Students Online

In today's digital age, it's no surprise that children and teenagers are spending an extensive amount of time glued to screens. On average, a teen can easily rack up nine hours per day in front of various devices. This excessive screen time can take a toll, leaving them drained and less receptive when it's time for your tutoring sessions. As an educator, not only must you focus on enhancing their understanding of the subjects, but you also have to address the challenge of combating screen fatigue.

Nonetheless, the virtual world offers incredible advantages, with video communication providing convenience and flexibility that transcends the boundaries of a traditional classroom. Embracing your role as an online tutor, you can cleverly leverage these possibilities to keep your students actively engaged and motivated.

To achieve this, here are some effective strategies to help your students remain interested and involved throughout your tutoring sessions:

Offer prospects for the learner to share

Foster dynamic and engaging interactions by motivating students to participate actively by asking questions and sharing their thoughts. One compelling way to accomplish this is by scheduling show-and-tell activities where learners showcase things connected to the subject matter on their screens. For example, if you're tutoring a pupil in reading, inspire them to share their favored book with you. This not solely piques their interest but likewise adds a personal touch, making the learning experience more pleasant and unique.

Organize lessons around themes or dress up 

To keep a student engaged and attentive, it's essential to incorporate content that aligns with their interests and preferences. You can enhance the learning experience by integrating themes related to their favorite color, sport, movie character, or animal, which adds an exciting visual element to the material you cover. Additionally, adding a touch of fun and creativity, consider wearing funny hats or other costume elements that change with each meeting, creating a lively and enjoyable atmosphere that encourages active participation and makes the tutoring sessions more memorable.

Include background elements, for example, as another form of visual interest

To spark excitement and captivate the student's interest during the session, you can start by sketching a doodle or choosing a background that directly relates to the day's topic. Whether it's an adventurous safari setting or an intergalactic space backdrop, incorporating these visuals and backgrounds can add a delightful twist to the child's usual online learning routine. This creative approach brings an element of fun and imagination to the learning experience, making it more engaging and enjoyable for the student.

Offer short breaks

As an educator, you'll find value in the break times just as much as your students do. Utilize these brief intervals to tend to personal needs, such as taking a restroom break, grabbing a snack, or stretching your legs. Even though these moments are short, they can make a significant impact on the student's engagement and retention rate. By allowing both you and the student to recharge and refresh, you create a more conducive learning environment that fosters better focus and comprehension throughout the tutoring session.

Praise and reward the student for their progress at the end of the session 

Consider implementing a digital reward system to incentivize and engage your students further. For instance, you can offer them a link to an educational game that reinforces the content covered during the tutoring session. Additionally, to kick off the meeting on a positive note, begin with a written message on the whiteboard that celebrates their achievements and progress. These small yet meaningful gestures can motivate and uplift your students, making the learning experience more enjoyable and fruitful for everyone involved.

To sum up, navigating the realm of online education requires a delicate balance between technology and genuine human connection. To stay present and engaged with your students in the virtual environment, it is important to prioritize their individual requirements and facilitate a sense of belonging and community. Active listening, clear communication, and compassionate understanding pave the way for significant interactions that transcend the digital screen.