How Online Tutoring Works for Students in First Nations Communities
For many students in First Nations communities, the nearest in-person tutor is hours away. Online tutoring removes that drive. A student can work one-on-one with a tutor from home, from the school library or from a band office, on the same day they need help.
If your family or school has never tried online tutoring, here is what it looks like, what you need, and how to start.
What a session looks like
Sessions run live on Zoom. The tutor and student see and hear each other, and both write on a shared digital whiteboard. The student can hold work up to the camera or share a photo of a worksheet, and the tutor walks through it step by step.
Every session at A+ Tutoring follows the same three steps:
- Understand the concept. We explain the idea and the formula underneath it, in simple steps.
- Practise with purpose. The student works through guided examples on the topics they find hardest.
- Master it. Problem-solving and review make the idea stick, so it is still there on test day.
We use real-life examples, including examples from the land and the community, so math and science connect to things students already know.
What you need
- A computer, tablet or phone with internet. A laptop or tablet is easier for writing on the whiteboard, but a phone works.
- Course notes or the textbook, if the student has them.
- A quiet spot for about an hour. Headphones help in a busy house.
What about slow or limited internet?
You don’t need fast internet. Zoom’s own guidance is about 600 kbps each way for a good one-on-one video call. With video on, an hour uses roughly half a gigabyte of data. If the connection is weak or data is limited, the student can turn off their camera and keep the audio and shared whiteboard, which uses much less. If the call drops, we reconnect and pick up where we left off.
What students can get help with
We tutor Grades 5 to 12 in math and science, including:
- Junior high math and science, and Grade 6 and 9 PAT preparation
- Math 10C, 20-1, 20-2, 30-1, 30-2 and Math 31
- Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Science 30
- Diploma exam preparation, since diploma exams count for 30% of the final mark in those courses
For schools and education authorities
Schools can book tutoring for several students at once, during the school day or after school. Students can join from a computer lab with a staff member present. Tell us how many students, which grades and courses, and when you’d like to start, and we’ll send a written quote.
How to start
The first session is free and lasts 1.5 hours. We get to know the student, find the topics to start with and agree on goals. If it isn’t the right fit, you pay nothing.
Call or text 825-966-7690, email contact@aplusfntutoring.com, or book a free session. Prefer in person? We also tutor in north Edmonton.