We’ve Perfected The Online 11+ English Classroom ✏️
Huge changes have unfolded throughout the teaching and tuition industry over the last 5 years. The main factor driving this has been the shift to online learning and education. Parents no longer see online tuition as less desirable than in-person. In fact, the benefits of online learning are well known and many have already experienced them first-hand. To name a few, the convenience, measurability, parental involvement, teacher accountability, speed and detail of feedback are all improved. Online tuition can be done in many different ways, below details how we do it best.
Contents:
Tutor Support and Training 👩🏫
There are two tutors in every class: one leading the teaching, the other providing technical support. This means the class runs smoothly without technology-related interruptions. Today, technical hitches and connection problems are not acceptable. The experience must be smooth and seamless, and we set up the online learning environment to ensure this. The maximum amount of time is spent on learning. No starting late, no technical troubleshooting, no waffling, no filler content (pressing play on a video), no time wasted. All the technical set up is handled by the team beforehand so that every student can access the session without issue. The tutor is responsible for teaching and giving clear direction to the students. The technical support manages everything else in the background, so the class progresses smoothly without a hitch.
Tutors are trained on how to teach really well online. Over the course of our time delivering tuition online, we’ve learned an enormous amount about what works and what doesn’t. For example, the students should be instructed to streamline learning between video, audio and the chat function. Or how to ensure students are following your screen and how you check for understanding. Off-topic questions are left for email discussion after the session so we can move forward together and stay focussed on what is most important — the 11 Plus exam. Students are kept on task with worksheets, entertaining visuals, mini competitions, regular teacher-student discussion, class notes, model answers and homework.
Small Group Dynamic 🤝
Unlike maths, the learning path for 11 Plus English is non-sequential: it doesn’t require a logical, step-by-step approach to learning. English is, to a greater degree, flexible and subjective; there are numerous ways to arrive at a good answer which would score marks. This is where learning in a group delivers huge benefits. Students can analyse the wide variety of answers submitted by other students in the class in order to find actionable improvements and breakthroughs of their own. This is just not possible in a one to one learning environment. The number of answer variations and combinations of words and ideas are far less. In fact, we would say the group learning experience is what helps our students improve and learn the most. Every individual benefits from the work and analysis of the group. The eureka moment can happen at any time!
Excellent Instruction Beats Personalisation 🗣️
We don’t personalise our learning materials. We know what a child need to be able to deliver in order to score very highly in the 11 Plus exam. Then we present students with a few options we know work well to help them achieve the required standard. Bespoke or tailored lessons are overrated and no more effective; a Harvard professor agrees with us. Although we use the most up-to-date technology to deliver our online classes, we are somewhat “old school” in the way we think about what good teaching is: explain something clearly, with precision and expertise, accompany this with varied supporting material and a range examples which appeal to the age group — no need to overcomplicate or call it bespoke. If it’s delivered skilfully, with energy, and the right supporting examples provided, any student can take it onboard regardless of their learning preferences. We believe it is a modern myth that everything needs to be adapted to each individual student and their unique requirements. In our view, all children are similar, if you deliver something in a clear and engaging way they can understand and use it. Our classes move with speed, intensity and purpose; our students prove time, and again they are more than willing to meet this challenge. Furthermore, their added application and desire to raise their standards shines through when they are rewarded with a place at their target school.
First Class Learning Materials And Marking 📚
Our 11 Plus learning materials are adjusted and improved every year based on what we see delivers the best learning outcomes. We stick with the learning sequences that work and adjust areas where we have received consistent feedback. Our marking and feedback is detailed and actionable. We give audio feedback higher priority than the typical written jottings students might be accustomed to receiving. Feedback should be specific to what the student has written, and it should tell them what exactly they need to do in order to score more marks (with supporting examples, of course) — audio feedback is the most suitable and effective medium for detailed delivery by the tutor and higher levels of constructive feedback.
Summary 🔁
Come along to our next free session or a mid-week workshop. This will introduce you to our style of teaching, though it won’t have all the features and detail of a course. After that, you can start working through our courses!
