Becoming a Tutor
How can I become a tutor?
To start your journey towards becoming a tutor, if you haven't already, sign up for a Schoolhouse account from the homepage. Once signed up, please navigate to the specific subworld you are interested in tutoring. Once you're there, look for the "My Journey" tab. This tab will provide you with step-by-step guidance on how to progress from a learner to a tutor. The journey to becoming a tutor in Schoolhouse begins by joining as a Learner. This allows you to engaPopularCan I get paid for tutoring?
No. Tutoring on Schoolhouse is currently on a volunteer-basis. We strive to lower barriers to receiving tutoring and make it completely free to sign up and attend any session.PopularWhat is the time commitment for tutoring?
As a tutor, you can set your own schedule and hold sessions at dates and times that you select. You are able to hold these sessions at whatever frequency you would like, whether that be every day or once a month.Some readersWhy should I become a Schoolhouse tutor?
There are plenty of reasons why you should become a Schoolhouse tutor! For starters, it allows you to give back through volunteering and hosting sessions for other students who need help the most. You can teach students all around the world that need help with high-school math, SAT prep, and more, all while tracking the work you do as volunteering and service hours for college applications and more. In addition, it allows you to build professional experience and connect with an internatSome readersDo I need to have tutoring or teaching experience to be a tutor?
Nope! While some members of our tutoring community do happen to have prior teaching or tutoring experience, we believe anyone can get started teaching what they know to others, at any stage of their journey.Few readersHow do I edit my sessions/series?
To edit your sessions: Navigate to your sessions page Click on the option towards the top that states, "Update Session". From there, you should be able to update max learners, duration (in minutes), date, time, description, and whether or not you want to allow co-hosting. To edit your series: Navigate to your series page On the left hand side (if you're onFew readersWhat do I do if I need help or advice?
We have your back! All tutors will go through a detailed training process where we’ll guide you through the ins-and-outs of leading safe and effective sessions on Schoolhouse. When you become a tutor, you’ll also join our Slack community of tutors and experienced coaches who are all here to support and guide you.Few readersIn what other ways can I get involved as a tutor?
In addition to being able to volunteer as a tutor, you’ll have chances to take the lead in the various volunteer teams across Schoolhouse. Our volunteers help review certifications, maintain our blog, welcome new members of the community, and much more! Join the shw-volunteer-opportunities channel in the Schoolhouse slack to learn more about getting involved.Few readersCan I become a Tutor?
Yes! At Schoolhouse.world, we believe anyone can be an effective tutor–we specifically encourage students themselves to tutor because it’s a great way to reinforce your own learning, as well! After joining, you will have to get Certified from Khan Academy in the selected subject so that you can tutor students with mastery! You can also earn honorary certifications, more information can be found here (https://faq.schoolhouse.world/en/article/what-are-the-different-options-for-certifications-1o9Few readersHow do I get more learners to join my sessions?
There are a couple of ways to get more learners to join your sessions: Schedule your sessions at least a week in advance to allow more time for learners to register Whether you are a new or current tutor, you want to consistently host sessions and offer lots of engagement. As you dedicate more time to tutoring and do it more consistently, you will gain more credibility and learners will register more for your sessions Community engagement sessions also gain a lot more learnersFew readersCan I join a meeting on two devices?
Yes, you can join a meeting on two devices! This is helpful for sharing your screen and paying attention to your learners, as well as annotating. Some helpful steps are included below: Sign into your Schoolhouse account, and join your meeting on both devices. You will see the option to either stay cohost or reclaim host. You will need to select "remain co-host." The other thing to note is that you can only be connected to audio on one device, otherwise you'll have an echo. To do thFew readersHow do you close enrollment to new users in a series?
To close enrollment to new users in a series: Go to your series page and on the left hand side (if you are on a computer) or towards the top (if you are on a mobile device), you will see several sections you can access. Click on "Edit Series" Under the "Toggle Enrollment" section you will be able to turn on and off the toggle depending on whether you are looking to open or cloFew readersDo you need to be certified in a topic to tutor it even if you know the topic?
Yes! To tutor a topic, you do need to complete the certification that is related with the topic, so you can host sessions. For more information, refer to the "Certify" page in the subworld you are interested in.Few readersHow long does it take for a subworld tutor application to get reviewed?
For subworlds with tutor applications (e.g. Enrichment), you can expect to hear back about your application within 7-10 days. If you haven't heard back in that time or have further questions, please post in the discussion channel of the subworld.Few readers
What is Peer Tutoring?
What are the benefits of peer tutoring?
Peer tutoring can help you build your confidence, as unlike a traditional classroom environment, it can offer a more relaxed, approachable space for you to find your voice, ask questions and grow. Peer tutoring can also allow you to build faster connections, as peer tutors are not only tutors but also friends, collaborators, mentors, and role models. So, getting tutored by one who knows what you're going through may make it easier to be motivated and accountable while pursuing goals. At lastFew readersIs peer tutoring effective?
Peer tutoring approaches are shown to have a positive impact on learning, with studies identifying benefits for both learners and tutors. Peer tutoring is also shown to be more effective when tutoring sessions are used to enhance or supplement normal classroom learning. At Schoolhouse, many of our sessions are designed to be a space for reinforcing and practicing what you learn in school.Few readersWhat are three forms of peer tutoring?
Three formal examples include: Cross-age tutoring: in which an older learner tutors younger tutee(s). Reciprocal tutoring: where two or more students alternate between acting as the tutor and tutee in each session. Same-age tutoring: where peers within one or two years of age are paired to review key concepts, and may also alternate tutor and tutee roles ( Source (https://council-for-learning-disabilities.org/peer-tutoring-flexible-peer-mediated-strategy-that-involves-studeFew readersWhat does "peer tutoring" mean?
Peer tutoring means getting help from other students, like you. Peer tutoring takes many forms: an older student tutoring a younger student in a subject they took years ago, a student of a higher ability tutoring another student who may be struggling, or students in the same class coming together to review material, with one student leading. Peer tutoring can be one-to-one or take place in small groups! Both formats complement a traditional school classroom and can offer a safe, supportive enviFew readersWhat are pros and cons of peer tutoring?
The pros: Getting a chance to learn from someone who can relate to you, who can offer different perspectives, gives you a chance to reinforce what you learned in school, can prepare for future education, and can help motivate you to learn and grow. The cons: Everyone learns (and teaches!) differently, so it may take extra time exploring to find a style that really clicks for you.Few readersWhat is peer tutoring on Schoolhouse.world?
At Schoolhouse.world, getting peer to peer tutoring means going beyond the walls of your classroom and joining a global network of learners and tutors who have your back. On our platform, we offer peer tutoring in small groups. As a learner, you can join sessions hosted by other peers to get virtual tutoring with other students learning the same things as you, such as math, SAT Prep, AP Test Review, and much more. As a student, you can also give back by gettiFew readersWho would benefit from peer tutoring?
Our tutor community comes from all walks of life, so a peer can be found in anyone! We specifically specialize in supporting English-speaking students at the middle and high school levels, however, we welcome learners of any and all backgrounds.Few readersWhat is the purpose of peer tutoring?
Learning doesn’t only happen between an instructor and a student! Peer tutoring benefits both tutees and tutors (Source). Peer-to-peer on Schoolhouse can be a strong complement to traditional classroom learning, offering opportunities to practice skills and reinforce concepts that were confusing as many times as a learner needs — all in a welcoming, small-group environment.Few readers
How do I host a session?
How can a tutor host a session through Schoolhouse.world?FeaturedWhy did I receive a "Not Helpful" rating?
Receiving a "Not Helpful" rating can be disheartening but it's important to remember that these ratings are not a judgement of your abilities as a tutor but rather information about how your learner experienced the session. Here are some insights and tips on how to approach and understand these ratings when you receive them: Occasionally, learners leave specific comments along with their ratings. For example, “Please solve more numerical problems and go a bit faster.” This type of feedback caSome readersWhat's a highly engaging session?
At Schoolhouse, it's important that every session actively engages learners in some meaningful way—this helps maximize their absorption of material and allows for personalization to their specific needs, helping learners get value that a youtube lecture or asynchronous online course couldn't already provide. To estimate how engaging a session is, we look at the ratio of how much learners are talking in a session, vs the tutor. We currently define a highly engaging session as one where there's aSome readersDo I have to create a zoom link to host a session/series?
No! Schoolhouse.World has a system where we will create the zoom session for you. Hosting a Session/Series Open your session/series page Click on the blue button to open your Zoom room. You will be able to open your session up to 15 minutes before the scheduled day and time. Hosting Live Help The learner must first request Zoom Help (they can do this by clicking the "Yes, request Zoom help!" box when editing their post) Click on the "Open Zoom Room" button and follow tFew readersCan I plan a session with only one learner?
No. A tutor cannot host a private session meant exclusively for one learner. While tutors can still host a session if only one learner shows up, tutors cannot intentionally exclude other learners. All sessions have to be publicly available for safety and accessibility reasons. If you are planning a session for a specific learner, please add a detailed description of what you plan to cover in the description so other learners can join if it's relevant to them.Few readersWhat types of community events can I host, and where should I host them?
Context Schoolhouse's mission is to connect the world through learning. There are two major parts to our learning community: connecting and learning. They go hand-in-hand. For example, Schoolhouse is not a place for people to connect and play games without any learning going on. Likewise, it's not a place for students to learn individually without any support from others. Rather, Schoolhouse is a place to combine both connecting and learning. We learn better when we do so together,Few readersWhat am I not permitted to do while hosting sessions?
While you are hosting sessions, you are not permitted to do the following in accordance with our content policy: 1. Endanger or compromise the well-being of learners, whether intended or not — this includes both physical and mental health, as well as financial outcomes. 2. Exclude learners, or divide learners based on their beliefs. 3. Share information whose accuracy is questioned by experts. — while there is no universally acceptFew readersWhat language can I take sessions in?
Schoolhouse is global and proudly used by learners from 100+ countries. Unfortunately, due to limits of being a smaller organization that is still growing, our systems are only able to support the English language right now. Tutors should write session descriptions in English and should use English throughout their sessions. A session or series focused on helping English-speakers learn non-English languages is allowed, as an English-speaking safety moderator can still understand context and modeFew readersAs a tutor, what terms and conditions do I agree to?
We’re excited to have you tutor! In joining Schoolhouse.world as a tutor, we ask that you acknowledge the following terms & conditions. You confirm that you are 13 years of age or older. You agree to be recorded during sessions for quality and safety purposes. You agree to follow our Session Content Policy. You agree that you will immediately report any inappropriate behavior that occurs on Schoolhouse.world’s pages and sessions by emailFew readersWhy am I having issues with Schoolhouse verifying that I have joined Slack?
This might occur because of the email you used to join. Try to make sure that the email you joined Slack with and the email that your Schoolhouse account is linked with are the same. If they are not or if you are still having problems, please email [email protected].Few readersHow do you end/delete a series early?
To end/delete a series early, Navigate to your series page On the left hand side (if you are on a computer) or at the top (if you are on a mobile device), you will see several sections you can access. Click on "Edit Series", then "End Series Early".Few readersWhat am I required to do while hosting sessions?
It's great to see you here, looking on how to host your session! You should ensure the following: Sessions need to be appropriate for kids as young as age 13: This means no profanity, nudity, violence, etc. Tutors must host sessions that are respectful and professional: Tutors should be aware of the potential for a power imbalance between themselves and learners, and ensure that their teaching methods do not harass, intimidate, tease, or give undue attention to a learner. SesFew readersWhy am I unable to give feedback to a learner?
As a tutor, you have the option to give your learners feedback, but you will be unable to leave feedback for all registered learners who do not join your session. Another situation where you cannot provide feedback is if the learner unregisters from your session. Finally, if you are hosting a series, once a learner withdraws from it, you will not be able to leave them any feedback. This includes the rare instance where the learner joins the session but withdraws from your series afterward.Few readersCan I advertise other services as a tutor?
No, you cannot advertise other services such as a personal website or business as a tutor. Exceptions may be made in select cases where learners will be benefited and the Schoolhouse.world team has given prior permission.Few readersWhat if a learner really pushes me to give them the answer to their problem?
It is so tempting to respond, but resist the temptation! Giving an answering to their question won't help them learn the material, it will only encourage them to keep asking for answers rather than learn the process to arriving at the answer. Additionally, if the you and the learner are discussing via the channel only, refrain from immediately showing the answer in the first response to the learner. (Ex, a learner asks how to find the square root of 144, rather than saying "12x12=144 so the answFew readersAm I allowed to share curriculum slides with students?
Yes! You are permitted to share curriculum slides with students so they can reference it while studying or they can use them if they have missed a session. Please use your series group chat, or the public discussion.Few readersWhat age should sessions be suitable for?
Sessions need to be appropriate for kids as young as age 13. This means no profanity, nudity, violence, etc.Few readersIs it possible to change the topic of my scheduled session?
The only way to do this would be to delete the session and create a new one. On Schoolhouse, you are given the option to reschedule or update your session, in which case you can edit things such as the max learners and timing of the session, but you cannot change the topic.Few readersWhat if I find myself unable to help the learner with their question or problem?
First of all, it's OK to not know everything! You can suggest that the learner make a post in the appropriate Help channel or attend another session/series for more help.Few readersHow do I look at past sessions of a series?
To look at past sessions of a series: Begin by navigating to the series details page of the series you want to see past sessions for. Scroll all the way down until you come across the last session in the series. Below the last session, there should be a "See Past Sessions" button. Once you click on "See Past Sessions", you will see each session that had already occurred including the dates, times,Few readersOnce my session has started, how do I admit learners to my room?
Open the Zoom room by clicking on the "Start Session" button on your session/series page Once you're in the Zoom room, there are two ways to admit learners: A) You can click on the "Participants" tab and admit them from there by clicking "Admit" B) Every time a learner joins the waiting room, it will notify you at the top of your screen. You can click on the "Admit" button to let them in.Few readersWhere do I see the feedback I've been given?
You can see the feedback you're given by learners and peer reviewers on your tutor feedback page!Few readersHow do I duplicate existing assessments?
If you would like to duplicate existing assessments that are already attached to a session/series, you can follow these steps: Note: I will be using Zuzu B's series, "Schoolhouse Game Time!" -https://schoolhouse.world/series/1951 as an example. Not all series have assessments attached to them. Go to the series that you're wanting to duplicate the assessment from and go to the "Assessments" tab on the left hand side. With the assessment that is attached, click on the arrow next to thFew readersTips for Responding to Help Channel Requests
Our commitment to fostering a supportive learning environment extends to the valuable contributions of our tutors. When assisting learners, tutors should try to adopt practices that guide them toward the right answers without directly providing solutions. How can I best support learners in help requests? Refrain from jumping in when another tutor is helping. Too many tutors helping can actually be detrimental to the learner. If you see another tutor is already involved, give theFew readersKeeping Conversations on Topic
The Importance of Keeping Sessions on Topic While building rapport is an important aspect of creating positive, and engaging learning environment, the main focus of our non-enrichment sessions is to foster academic conversations. Straying from an academic focus can significantly impact the learning experience for all participants. It introduces unnecessary distractions, and can also alienate learners who have questions they are waiting to ask. Schoolhouse community members should maintaFew readersEnsuring Inclusive Sessions
To ensure inclusive sessions, we do not permit 1:1 series/sessions at this time. While tutors should feel empowered to address the individual needs and questions of a single learner during a session, it’s against community guidelines to discourage other learners from joining. But what if a learner wants a tailored session? Tutors can absolutely structure their session to focus on the specific needs and questions of individual learners during sessions. This personalized attention can enhFew readersIf I'm a co-host, will I be marked as a no-show if I don't attend every session?
It depends on the circumstances. You will be marked as a no-show if none of the co-hosts host the session. You will not be marked as a no-show if at least one of the co-hosts hosts the session.Few readers