Set Yourself Up For Success With These Online Tutoring Tools

Let’s kick this one off with a statement we all know to be true:

The coronavirus pandemic has really thrown a wrench into our everyday lives.

Businesses have been, at best, forced to modify their operations by going virtual in every way possible. And at worst, forced to completely shut down. Entire industries, from the healthcare industry to government operations have been hit with restrictions and changes left and right. Certain processes that were progressing slower at first have started to progress much quicker due to the pandemic, such as the advent of telemedicine software for healthcare appointments.

One industry that has seen its fair share of changes and modifications is the education industry. With the wave of social distancing requirements that have taken effect, having several hundred students walking through the halls, brushing shoulders, and sitting within a few feet of each other in class simply isn’t sustainable.

So the question remains: How do we continue to educate youth while adhering to social distancing requirements and pandemic restrictions?

Two words: Online tutoring.

Now, obviously bringing online tutoring to the forefront is going to involve the implementation of brand new software. Not only is this more work for the already stressed out education industry staff, but it’s also not the easiest task either. How would you know which software is right for the job? What features or core aspects are worth evaluating when assessing different online tutoring software?

Luckily, we’re here to eliminate most of the guesswork for you, as we’ve compiled a list of the best online tutoring software on the market.

However, before we dive into the list, let’s take a look at the different criteria we used to evaluate online tutoring software. It’s fine if you want to just take our word for it, but we’d like to show our work.

How We Evaluated Online Tutoring Software

When you’re making any type of purchase, it’s important to go over some criteria to evaluate different options. Otherwise, how would you know if you’ve made the right choice?

We’ve come up with some priority talking points for online tutoring software that we believe need to be evaluated before deciding on one particular software. Even if you choose to go with an online tutoring software that isn’t on our list, you should still use these criteria to evaluate any others that come across your radar.

Price

This should be a no-brainer.

Pretty much any time you’re looking to make a new purchase, whether you like it or not, one of the first things you’ll be looking at is the price. It’s just the way we’re wired as humans.

Online tutoring software is no different. Price is almost certainly going to be a factor, especially in an industry with such tight budgets.

Here’s the thing though. Many people immediately go to extremes. They either go with free software that doesn’t meet any of their needs, or they believe that they must have the most expensive software because it’s obviously the best. Both cases are wrong.

While we could go on and on about the debate between free and paid software, one statement always holds true: When evaluating price, it’s not about paying more or less. It’s about ensuring that you’re getting great value for the cost. 

So, while the old cliche of “you get what you pay for” tends to apply in most cases, it’s not always the rule. There are certainly exceptions, and our list gives you the best possible bang for your buck.

Ease of Use

Possibly one of, if not the most important part of evaluating online tutoring software is the ease of use factor.

Why is this?

Well, there are two sides to the coin here:

1. Ease of use for staff
2. Ease of use for students

Staff will want to use software that isn’t convoluted or complex so they can focus on actually teaching instead of wrestling with pesky software features. The less time they need to spend tinkering with different settings, the more they can actually get through to the next generation.

For students, learning can already be difficult enough. With attention spans decreasing as quickly as they are, having to fight with online tutoring software just adds one more thing to take away from a student’s focus.

For this reason, our picks are as easy to use as possible. They leave little room for major errors for both staff and students.

Calendar Management

Traditional classrooms require a ton of organization in order to function at a high level. Online tutoring is no different. Even with students at home, the level of organization needs to be immaculate for different courses, lessons, and groups of students.

For this reason, using online tutoring software with a clear and concise calendar management system is vital.

To put it as bluntly as possible, you’ll want online tutoring software with a calendar that does exactly what you need it to do. Whether this is integrations with other applications or simple functionality such as booking different courses on different days, the calendar should meet your exact expectations in order for you to implement the software.

Online Booking

When it comes to consultations with a designated tutor, online booking features are a must.

Potential clients should be able to book with you anytime and any place. Accessibility is huge here. The easier it is for them to book a consultation, the more likely they’ll actually go through with it.

While this point applies less to traditional public education and more to freelance tutors, it’s still worth mentioning. Learning is learning.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Features

It might seem a little odd to include this as part of the criteria for evaluating different online tutoring software, but hear us out.

CRM features include analytical data and automated reporting. This can come in handy for different things such as:

• Student demographics
• Attendance
• Staff performance
• Specific school performance

So, while it may not be the first thing that comes to mind with online tutoring software, CRM features are definitely worth keeping in mind, considering you can use the insights to improve engagement and learning across the board.

Tech Support

Software nearly always runs into issues at some point. No matter how easy to use it might be.

When issues present themselves, or when complicated features need explaining, that’s where tech support comes in. When choosing an effective online tutoring software, you’ll want to go with one that has an effective tech support team.

Tech support typically comes in two different forms:

1. 24/7 live chat
2. A tech support center filled with articles explaining different scenarios

Some have one or the other. Some even have both. Regardless, this is a must-have feature if you want to ensure classrooms or tutoring sessions continue to run smoothly with little interruption.

The Best Software for Online Tutoring

So out with it. What are the best options out there for online tutoring?

Now that you’re fully aware of the criteria we used to evaluate, let’s dive into the software we chose that best meets these core aspects.

1. Skiplino Virtual Branch

It can be tough to trust someone when they list their own software as one of the best but hear us out. After all, we wouldn’t list ourselves if we didn’t think we could stand up to the rest of the software on the market.

So what makes Skiplino Virtual Branch so special?

Well, for starters, there’s the simplistic pricing system. There are three tiers, with the only difference between them being the number of minutes allotted. All of the features are included with each tier, so you won’t be stuck choosing between a few different tiers and deciding which features you don’t actually need.

Some of the core features offered by Skiplino Virtual Branch include:

• Able to initiate video call sessions 
• Accessible through a mobile device or desktop
• An easy-to-use calendar to keep track of upcoming tutoring clients
• Advanced analytics and automated reporting capabilities

Where Skiplino’s valuable insights can seriously come in handy in order to improve engagement and overall learning experiences in the classroom.

Most of this information is accessible through a clear and concise dashboard on the Skiplino admin app.

And the best part? Skiplino can be set up in as little as 5 minutes and you can try it for free. Perfect for education sector workers who have enough to worry about as it is.

All of this being said, it should be plain to see how Skiplino stands out from the competition and is an excellent choice for online tutoring software.

2. ProProfs

When assessing ProProfs, one thing that stands out immediately is the online course builder. This can definitely be an asset, as it would be far more efficient than using separate software to create courses and curriculums.

On top of that, some other core features from ProProfs include:

• Multilingual and localization support for multiple different linguistic regions
• A self-help center for students to find the information they need on their own
• Reporting and analytics features
• Functionality to sell courses online

One thing to note is that ProProfs bills by the learner. There are a few different tiers to choose from, each with a separate price per learner. This means that a little more thought will likely have to go into choosing the appropriate tier for your needs.

If you’re able to see past the slightly more complicated pricing model, ProProfs is certainly worth considering as an online tutoring software. The course builder and multiple language support help make it one of our favorites. And if you’re still unsure, ProProfs offers a 15 day trial of their service to help ease your mind.

3. LearnCube

One of the interesting parts about LearnCube is that it’s completely download-free. The software can be used and customized through its own browser framework.

While there are still certainly some features that will need to be learned, the fact that there aren’t any software downloads eliminates an entire task which could potentially create issues.

The question is, what would you get with LearnCube?

• An interactive whiteboard
• Reliable audio and video calls
• Custom branding
• Recording features to record past lessons

LearnCube doesn’t actually display their prices online, so you’ll need to contact them with details about your needs and the number of learners in order to get a quote.

4. Electa Live

With the internet being one of the greatest learning resources out there, Electa Live’s guided web tours feature is certainly a standout. With it, you can safely and securely bring your entire virtual classroom to different web pages and show them different resources they can use to succeed in a particular course or subject.

Obviously, Electa Live doesn’t stop there. They provide all the core features you’d be looking for in online tutoring software, including:

• Crystal clear audio and video conferencing
• Shared whiteboards
• Text chat for session notes
• Breakout rooms for individual collaborations

As far as pricing goes, their system is similar to that of ProProfs. With three tiers to choose from, you’ll need to figure out how many learners you have and go from there. As an example, at 25 attendees, the easy tier is priced at $29.90 per month, the tutor pro tier at $39.90 per month, and the professional tier at $49.90 per month.

Electa Live may require a bit more thought into the different pricing tiers, but the different features offered can be worth your while.

5. WizIQ

If you’re looking for an online tutoring software packed with customization, WizIQ is an option to ponder over. Their advanced API comes with several different integration and plugin options, depending on what your needs are.

Of course, WizIQ doesn’t slouch on the key concepts of an online tutoring software, which include:

• High-def video conferencing with either 1 client or an entire classroom
• A course builder
• Reports and analytics
• Mobile learning

The pricing is what may cause a little confusion, as WizIQ offers three separate tiers without actual prices. The prices start at $25/learner monthly, but you’ll need to contact them to get a quote for the tier that you’re interested in.

However, as you can see, the different tiers are well laid out with the specific features you’ll get from each one, which makes deciding on a specific option just a little bit easier.

WizIQ also offers a free trial for those who remain skeptical, which eliminates some of the risks.

Online Tutoring Software Summary

Now that you’ve got a solid handle on what makes a great online tutoring software, and even some solid options to get you started, it’s time to look into implementing one.

Let’s face it. These pandemic-based restrictions are likely here to stay for a little while longer. And while it certainly isn’t ideal, it doesn’t mean we can’t prepare ourselves by implementing systems that can make navigating the crisis just a little easier. Students still need to learn regardless.

So what are you waiting for? Check out these online tutoring software options and get yourself one as soon as possible. The future generation will thank you for it.

Questions About Skiplino Virtual Branch?

It’s tough to pack all the necessary information about Skiplino Virtual Branch into a few paragraphs. If you’re looking for more information on why Skiplino is the best option for online tutoring software, let us know. We’re here for you.