There is no question about it. COVID-19 has had a monumental impact on the entire world. Virtually every industry has been impacted in some way, but the online tutoring industry has seen some significant changes over the past few years and unlike many industries, the changes have been mostly positive. Even though we all want to see an end to the sickness and death this pandemic has caused, it is nice to see certain industries such online teaching, thriving.
An Increase in Teaching Avenues
Teaching is no longer based around a stagnant classroom experience. We are no longer confined by the walls of an institution, but by the waves of information available on the internet. Teaching tools such as apps and online programs can teach us much, but it is the investment of the online tutor that tends to have the most impact. Teaching avenues today are impressively vast. A teacher can choose to teach students online via live video feeds, pre-recorded lessons, or have the full classroom experience just like with in-person learning.
Online tutor jobs have skyrocketed due to so many available avenues. Online tutors are in every industry from baking to learning a new language and every teaching opportunity in between. If you can dream it up, there is likely online teaching jobs for it and that is great for up-and-coming teachers looking to break into the online tutoring industry or those looking to retire from their regular classroom teaching position.
More Certification Options
Although anyone can put out a series of online tutorials for students to access, certification is the key ingredient in having an online tutoring career and thanks to the pandemic, there are plenty of ways to receive a high-quality certification your students can trust in. Online certifications from online resources empower you to do more with your career and show your students you know what you are talking about. These certifications do not require a degree, just proof of knowledge, so if you have a desire to teach, get certified online.
Enhanced Technology for Online Teaching
Online tutoring growth can certainly be attributed to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but how has that growth been substantiated? Growth would not have been possible if it were not for investments in enhancing technology for online teaching purposes. Today, advancements have been made in programs such as Google Classroom and Zoom in which teachers can see and monitor progress of their students. The virtual classroom has become just as important as the physical one which is great for the online tutoring industry. The ability to engage an entire classroom from your computer is not something that would have been an option even 5 years ago.
More Desire to Learn in Adults
A teacher is nothing without students to teach and thankfully, there is no shortage of excited students in today’s digital world. The teaching industry was once strictly devoted to teaching grade school, high school, and college classes, but we have seen a resurgence in the industry over the past few years where more adults are investing in learning opportunities. Career changes and even learning languages to prosper their current careers are becoming more common among adults throughout the world.
We have also seen a significant growth in companies investing in online education options for new and existing employees. Large scale companies and even smaller ones have finally discovered how profitable ongoing education can be for their bottom line. By investing in educating their current employees, they can reach into various markets around the world and enhance their growth potential substantially.
Companies regularly allow employees to take online classes while at work for the purpose of growing their business as a whole. Among the most common avenues for online learning from a corporate standpoint is investing in learning a new language. Empowering their employees to continue to learn is the best way to plan for and positively impact the future.
How Much Has Online Tutoring Grown and Will It Continue?
During the first year of the pandemic, 2020, growth in the online tutoring sector was substantial. More then 50% growth in online teaching jobs was reported. With schools turning to digital learning avenues due to local and national requirements, growth was certainly expected. In 2021, we witnessed many schools allowing students back into the classroom, but overall, the online teaching industry still grew 32% overall. Websites such as Preply.com are doing their part to provide an avenue for active teachers to find qualified online tutoring jobs.
It might seem as though, when looking at merely the numbers, the tutoring industry is beginning to slow down, but you have to keep in mind, 2020 was a very uncommon year in a lot of ways. Still, for the following year, a 32% rise is certainly impressive. According to recent studies, the growth rate is expected to be 15.6% annually between 2021 and 2028. As we see more students becoming more comfortable with the online classroom and teachers adapting to using virtual learning as an option, we will certainly experience more growth for the online tutoring industry in the coming years.