Self-paced learning platforms, ranging from tech skills and lifelong learning portals to MOOCs in higher education, have been largely relying on pre-recorded content and asynchronous interaction in forums. This approach, while certainly cost effective, has also been identified as its major drawback as it only too often leads to demotivated, disconnected learners and high dropout rates due to the lack of direct human interaction.
Over the past couple of months we have been noticing a sharp increase in on-demand tutoring features on a variety of learning portals, and the trend now seems to have reached a point where this feature made it on the must-have list for both edtech startups and established players alike.
Last year WyzAnt, the decade old leader in the tutoring marketplace space, launched a version of its mobile app that includes the option to schedule live online lessons with tutors from the platform.
TakeLessons, a younger competitor that has its roots in music lessons, also added on-demand tutoring to its portfolio last year by partnering with Amazon Home Services.
In the college and university space Luvo (formerly Flashnotes.com) added on-demand features in September 2015. The startup also offers a Do Better Guarantee, offering a full refund if a learner does not receive better grades with the use of on-demand tutoring.
Coursera just recently announced the addition of mentor-guided courses to address the criticism about the lack of interaction and guidance on the MOOC platform. These courses are priced at $248 which includes weekly office hours and interaction via email and forums. Class Central reports that there are currently 10 courses on the portal that offer this option.
Another recent entrant to the on-demand tutoring arena is Pluralsight. Still in pre-alpha, the tech skills portal has soft-launched Pluralsight Mentors. Through the feature coding students can book live 1:1 help with a mentor priced at $1 per minute.
While on-demand tutoring is good news for online learners who get stuck or need that motivation from the 1:1 interaction with a tutor or mentor it also shows that qualified tutors will earn increasingly less income from their job. Even if we assume that a mentor on Pluralsight got 100% of the lesson price, she would still only earn a maximum of $60 per hour.
Moreover, on-demand tutors don’t have the luxury of planning ahead as they are, per definition, on-demand. “Classic” tutors get booked and paid for weeks and even months ahead, an on-demand tutor has to wait in line and hope for a booking in the timeframe she is online and available.
Another takeaway from these acquisitions if that live tutoring is indeed just a feature of a bigger online learning experience. Back in July 2010 I stated that live lessons are FNACs (feature, not a company) based on my experiences as language coach and the rise of language learning portals like Babbel or busuu.
Check out our Reading List: Online Tutoring for more information about the global online tutoring market.
[purchase_link id="12121" text="Purchase" style="button" color="blue"]Picture by Sarah Barker via Flickr