In today’s era of digital disruption, access to knowledge and information is getting easier through widely available sources. This opportunity fuels the IB education landscape making it more and more competitive. Aiming to make students curious, think critically, and evolve at the speed of the rapidly changing world, the IB education system goes beyond the traditional etiquette of rote learning and memorization and does not impart education for the sake of job readiness.
Helping students solve real-world problems, the IB education system fosters creativity amongst students and nurtures them with skills such as collaboration, adaptability, empathy, and intercultural understanding.
This systematically developed IB curriculum that engages students holistically, makes it necessary for students to get additional support from an IB Private Tutor or an IB Online Tutor who can mentor and guide students and build an enriching learning curve. With the rigorous academic demands, complexities of the IB syllabus, and the importance of enabling a global perspective, the demand for private coaching or an IB online tutor is seen on the rise.
Stats say that approximately 20-30% of the PYP students, 40-50% of the MYP students, and 60-70% of DYP students seek help from an IB private tutor. And out of these 50% of the students choose to seek IB online tutoring assistance over traditional in-person coaching. This trend has been on the rise since the COVID pandemic, and moreover, students enrolling for private coaching on average, have a high likelihood of good scores (6s to 7s) in their exams.
With the clear intention of steering the IB students through the demanding IB curriculum, helping them achieve their academic goals, and preparing them for excellence in a competitive global landscape, finding the best coaches could turn out to be a daunting task for the parents and the DYP students.
We have an ultimate checklist to share with you that will help you find the best IB private tutor or an IB online tutor:
1. Subject Matter Expert:
This is the most fundamental yardstick to be evaluated while scouting for an IB private or an online tutor. The tutor should be thorough with the IB subjects, curriculum, assessment criteria, exam models and should be a pro at developing a critical-thinking mindset. The tutor should be familiar with the latest advancements and should be excellent at teaching complex topics in an ultra-easy manner so that students find it easy to comprehend.
2. Familiarity with IB Assessments:
The International Baccalaureate (IB) assessment pattern differs across all the 3 levels and is extremely comprehensive. The various IB assessments including Internal assessment (IA) & External assessments, Extended essays (EE), TOK, and all others are meticulously and rigorously designed to focus on evaluating student’s continuous learning and takeaways, creativity, research skills, experiential learning growth, and their cognitive skills. Be it an IB Private tutor or an IB online tutor, both should be well-versed with the IB assessment principles and practices that differ across each level and they should be able to guide on each.
3. Technology and Resources:
While opting for IB online tutoring, ensure that the coach has the required technical skill sets and is adept at using online tools, LMS, or any other platform that assures structured and seamless training. The online tutor should also be able to provide access to online learning libraries such as study guides and past papers and should implement interactive learning techniques.
4. Proven Track Record:
IB Private tutors are nimble at stimulating the cognitive abilities of IB students. So, look for coaches who have demonstrated a consistent success track record and have helped students from the grassroots level. You may seek help from former students or ask for references. Check the tutor’s testimonials and check their credibility from their ex-students.
5. Personalized Teaching Approach:
The learning requirement of every student is unique, so the IB private tutor or the online tutor must be skilled at developing learning techniques based on the student’s innate abilities. A personalized teaching approach will enhance the percolation of topics taught and will help the student grasp the concept faster and easier.
6. Effective Communication Skills:
Good communication skills are a must-have trait for every IB Online Tutor, and this also applies to offline private teachers. Effective communication is a gateway for building good rapport and helping students understand concepts clearly. The IB private tutor should foster two-way communication so that students can get their doubts cleared and grasp complex subjects easily.
7. Flexibility:
The alignment of the IB private tutor’s coaching schedule with the student’s availability is an important parameter to check. Ensure that the tutor is flexible and willing to adjust the predefined coaching schedule if the need arises. This could happen in cases where students get engaged in extracurricular activities, exam schedules, additional projects, or research-based activities. Also, check if the tutor can stretch a bit in the event of an examination or if the student needs extra time to learn difficult topics.
8. Feedback Mechanism:
The IB tutor, both online and offline should have a robust feedback and progress-tracking reporting structure as a part of their deliverables. It is important to check the feedback style of the IB tutors and ensure they adopt a constructive mechanism. At the same time, the tutors should also be in a position to record the student’s progress and evaluate them to identify their areas of strengths and weaknesses. A structured progress report with a constructive feedback mechanism will foster the student’s learning and help him/her work on areas of opportunity.
9. Positive Learning Environment –
The IB online tutors or the private tutors should be good at establishing an excellent learning environment where they motivate and encourage the students. Understanding the unique needs of each student and making them comfortable is very essential while imparting education. The IB tutor should be good at conflict resolution, manage students’ and parents’ expectations, build a good rapport, foster independence, and must have excellent interpersonal skills.
10. Cost and Quality:
These two factors drive the customer satisfaction ratio as they both contribute to identifying the ROI. A good Return on Investment (ROI) can be achieved when you are sure that the cost you are paying ensures an excellent return, which means that the quality of coaching meets your expectation level. Identify and map the cost with the IB tutors’ experience level, expertise, and his/her proven track record. You must ensure that you are getting a good value for the investment you make in hiring an IB private tutor.
Also Read:- Reasons to ‘Why Ib Math Tutors are So Important in Modern Society’
Conclusion:
The above-mentioned checklist will help you identify the best IB Private Tutors or centers offering IB online tutoring. It is advisable to make an informed decision rather than hasty decisions that can prove detrimental to a student’s career track. Remember to follow these three core techniques – 1. Research 2. Inspect, and 3. Evaluate while choosing the right IB private tutor for your child.
