Today’s Guest Column is from Kevin Smith.
Another idea I have been working with is to develop an online tutoring business. My goal is to retire as soon as possible and start my new career in the Philippines. Since I teach students all day, I think the answer to my long term business has been right under my nose. I tutor science now and have tutored math in the past and it’s a good way to make some extra money. The problem is that meeting face to face doesn’t always work out as appointments get canceled or sometimes I have to change my plans. Gas is now over three dollars a gallon here and wasted driving adds up fast. But if I could do this online, I could save the travel time and expense, and even do it in the Philippines.
So I started thinking about all of this last week when I came across an article at the Washington bizjournals.com about how companies in India are tutoring students in the United States from India. They have tutors with masters degrees tutoring math and science kids here. They do this for “only” twenty to twenty-five dollars an hour. At this point, I thought, I can tutor for this amount and I can do it better because I know the curriculum here and I know how to relate to kids. I’m sure I could expand the business in the Philippines as there are many educated people willing to tutor math, science and English.
So with all this in mind, I started to do some research on what tools I would need to implement a tutoring business. It seems that what one needs is an online white board and audio. The good news is that there are some free online white boards such as vRoom from Elluminate Live and WiZIQ. Both of these provide an online white board and audio or video and look like they would be sufficient. My next task is to try them out and see how they work, especially with math equations and problem solving. If anyone has experience with either of these, let me know.
This past weekend we had our first snow here. It was only a half inch but it did cover the ground for a day.
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Sounds like a great idea, Kevin! I bet you could garner some success there!
Hi Kevin–Great idea! That’s also one of the few ideas that has crossed my mind for an online business. As a former math teacher in Florida, I’ve also looked into the possibility of online tutoring. The Philippines is a good and cost efficient source for tutors. Email me when you get a chance. Maybe we could share some ideas and experience. Till next time….
Hi Kevin, great idea. It works, I am pretty sure. One of US-friends Tom Anthony, California, is also teaching marketing on line.If he and his wife will be back in the Philippines, he would try to go likewise. I wish you good luck. Thanks for your informative blog.
Bob,
Thanks for the reply.
Julius,
Cool, I didn’t know you were a math teacher . I’ll be in touch…lots going on right now here.
Klaus,
I think the nature of education in general is changing where almost everything will be able to be taught online.
Kevin, I am interested in what you are doing and can also relocate. Maybe we can have offices around Cagayan de Oro. Soo I hope you have time to consider maybe another partner.
I have 14 years traveling to Peru, and also taught English there some and trained many guides there in Science and Conservation. I can also relocate mostly at my own expense. Mindanao Bob has really helped me in my considerations and a nice lady in Villanueva.
Hope to hear from you..Cordially Lawrence
whoops i didnt want that to be public Buuuut HELLO MINDANAOOOO !!!
Sounds like a good idea to me too! If could advertise where you know you would find people who are in need of totoring, even better!
Yeah, Lawrence, let’s hear it for CDO!
Kevin,
I have not been a formal teacher, but have trained in AutoCAD and basic drafting. I am also pretty knowledgeable in math and Physics. If you need me, I will be living in Davao as of December 16th.
Drop me a line.
Hi Kevin.
I’m Ichi, a new writer of LiP. Nice to hear you.
Yeah, good idea!
If you want to have Japanese students, I think I can help you.
By the way, I am also a teacher who is working for a collage in Davao.
Seems many teachers are here in LiP society, doesn’t it?
Hello Kevin, Have you also consider becoming an online teacher and mentor in addition to being a tutor? This are good additional income and you will have students globally. I mentioned your article to my husband Jon, he said you two have talked about it here. To me, this is really a good plan and very good to pursue the plan. I keep encouraging my husband to do it. I wish I can do it too but I’m still very new with the profession. I say go for it!
Hi Mady,
Yes I have. I am doing research on this now. I would like to start as a tutor first, though.
There are some very good web resources available. Both Elluminate’s vRoom and WebIQ look super. Take care.
There is apretty well-entrenched service doing good business here in Asia called teachertom.com they are Australian-based and offer complete online lesson delivery and evaluation for very cost effective prices.
When working with students one on one or in small groups you should look closely at Yahoo Messenger … about half the commercial software I see people recommending is only doing what Messenger did years ago when my wife to be and I first started using it.
Google also has a great service in their “Docs” online publishing service that let’s you upload existing PowerPoint presentations or build your own and share them publically or privately … for free of course.
One thing i have yet to see offered is a qualified teacher hooking up with an acredited on-line home school system … to oversee the deleievry and evaluation of the already accredited materials.
This is market niche which I don’t think has even begun to be tapped … what about “after school nannies” … the parent puts a web cam in their home and the “nanny”, from anywhere in the world can watch the children, assure the parents that the TV didn’t go on until the homw work was done or whatever else the parent decides the “rules” are. Aside from being up at 0300 or 0400 to start your day in the Philippines everything else is available … free video, free VOIP voice, record all sessions to disk for liability protection/quality assurance, etc., etc. I’d get into this myself but it sounds wayyyy tooo much like work (that four-letter word, again).
Dave,
Thanks for the information about TeacherTom. I went and checked them out. I think they mostly follow along a certain curriculum and not live tutoring. The nanny idea is good but it’s not for me. My strength is mathematics and physical science and I think the online, live, web presentation tools are the way to go. Many schools, universities, and companies use Elluminate Live and Moodle. The newcomer is WizIq. These provide a live classroom experience to interact with audio and video and chat and also a interactive whiteboard where powerpoint and other content can be shared. Thanks again.
Hello all. I just came across this page while browsing for more info re Davao. I have 18 years teaching experience, both academic & ESL. Currently living in Cebu, I have been working until recently as an education consultant in a start up company (not mine) which failed, and now am looking at various options, including online teaching.
I guess its not rocket science to figure out how to set it up, but there seems to be a very specific procedure to follow in order to bring it to reality, as regards structure, marketing, enrollment/payment, etc. I’m just at the beginning of this process and still trying to figure out how to access the necessary tools.
I’m also interested to find out if there is any demand for international schooling or supplementary education in Davao.
Roan,
The specific procedure to follow, that you mention, is to have a Class management system (CMS) like Blackboard or Moodle. Moodle is free and open source but you need to have your own server.
Another way is to just tutor individuals on either Elluminate’s vRoom or WizIq. You can set up payment options on WizIQ. Elluminate will let you teach/tutor two other students for free using their services. WizIq will let you teach/tutor unlimited number.
I would be interested to hear your experience teaching ESL.
Hello Kevin, Have you check Blackboard? The school and university counties here use that one but I don’t know if this one is expensive or affordable. It is a good one to set up a virtual classroom since it has a tools for test maker and checker in it.
Mady,
Hello. I’ve checked out Blackboard and you have to buy the software. Many people say Moodle is just as good or better and it’s free.
Thanks for the suggestions Kevin. I will let you know how it goes.
Ken, from what i can see, WizIq only allows free service for students and teachers. I cannot find any facility for payment options
Elluminate actually promotes it’s own tutoring service. You have to be ‘hired’ by them to tutor. Am I missing something?
On the other hand, yes, one can just use a conference room set up, but where is the facility for payment arrangements?
Kevin, from what i can see, WizIq only allows free service for students and teachers. I cannot find any facility for payment options
Elluminate actually promotes it’s own tutoring service. You have to be ‘hired’ by them to tutor. Am I missing something?
On the other hand, yes, one can just use a conference room set up, but where is the facility for payment arrangements?
Roan,
I know, it’s not easy trying to figure these things out. WizIQ has a Paypal option, but you have to sign up as a teacher first before you can open your Paypal account. They will be having an upgrade soon so it might be a little easier to use the Paypal feature.
Elluminate provides a free video/online whiteboard in it’s vRoom. You may need to have a CMS like Moodle to handle the Paypal account at Elluminate. That’s the waty I understand them now and I’m still learning. Take care
What a great idea! I’m a licensed secondary middle school social studies teacher and I’m working toward moving to the Philippines one day . This all sounds like a great business idea. I’d sure be interested in joining such an exciting venture at some point.
Awesome!
Wayne,
Thanks for the comment. Keep this tutoring idea in mind. I’m working on opening a tutoring business here but there is a lot to learn as far as content and how to deliver the content. Take care.