Talk to Maths Doctor about (online) tutoring - £200 John Lewis voucher prize draw NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

Maths Doctor have asked us to find out what Mumsnetters think about (online) tutoring for children.

Here's what they have to say, "Maths Doctor is the UK's award-winning maths tutoring company with an inspirational approach to teaching. Our one-to-one, private tutorials for students aged 7-18 are delivered live over the Internet using a shared virtual whiteboard and live video feed, so that our 500+ tutors can teach anyone, anytime, anywhere. We're the UK's largest provider of this innovative digital education method that helps boost students' grades."

So, have you ever tried tutoring with your child? If so, why did you decide to get a tutor? Did it help? If not, is it something you'd ever consider? Do you think tutoring is the same as giving your child music or sports lessons, or does it put other children at a disadvantage? What do you think about Maths Doctor's approach with online tutoring? Whatever it is, we'd love to hear your thoughts!

Maths Doctor also want to give six Mumsnetters the chance to trial the Maths Doctor service and share their thoughts on this thread. The Mumsnetters who are selected will receive two free lessons for their child, which will need to be taken before 3rd February. To apply for the free trial please PM me with the age of your DCs and why you would like to trial Maths Doctor before Friday 17th January. We'll then select six Mumsnetters at random.

Maths Doctor may use posts on this thread for further marketing purposes (anonymously, of course), so please only post if you're happy with that.

Everyone who adds their thoughts to this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £200 John Lewis voucher.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

PS: For those Mumsnetters who miss out on the free trial, Maths Doctor will also be offering a 20% discount for all subscriptions purchased in January (lessons can be taken at a later date but need to be booked by 31st January). Simply mention the promo code MUMSNET to receive the discount.

[tilliebob]

We recently began having a tutor for DS1 (14). He has gaps in this knowledge from primary school and this coupled with a crippling maths panic about his own abilities meant he was bombing tests in high school. After only 4 sessions, he got over 80% in a maths test rather than less than 50%, proving that he has the ability but not the confidence.

Wish we'd got her in a year or even two before. I am a teacher but on obviously not of maths - he's inherited his maths panic from me and I see it in the faces of pupils every day. It's a strange phenomenon.....

[gladbags]

I'd definitely consider tutoring, and like Maths Doctors fun approach.

[changedirection]

I haven't tried tutoring for my child ( she is only 3!)

It is something I would consider in the future if she needs help in any particular area. However, I think for a child face to face would be preferable to online. Although I see the appeal of online resources aimed at parents to help their children.

[EstoyAqui]

I would be interested in this if the need arose. It does seem to be quite popular at the moment as DD has had no less than 3 separate leaflets from school regarding various tutoring systems.

Tutoring is not the same as music or sports IMO. These to me are extracurricular that enrich childrens' lives. Maths, whilst enriching, has a much greater focus on it in the curriculum. That being said we do not have any intention of our DCs being left behind so we would consider it if school does not keep up.

[OutwiththeOutCrowd]

I'd like to see the Maths Doctor platform extended to include older students at university level. One of the problems as you go further into maths is that it becomes increasingly difficult to find someone local who is knowledgeable in a particular esoteric area of study. A lecturer might be able to help but they can be busy/scary/a bit too mad to comfortably approach.

It would be useful to have some kind of on-line hub/network like Maths Doctor where you could search for virtual tuition in some specific area such as a particular method of integration or some arcane aspect of probability theory. The geographical location of the expert would not be significant, so a diverse range of topics could be offered from tutors worldwide.

I would have availed myself of such a service had it been available when I was studying.

As for tutors, I think post-grad students, for example, would be happy to offer their expertise in this way and make a bit of money for themselves too.

[SilkStalkings]

Would this be appropriate for children with autistic spectrum disorders?

[MrChow]

This is something I'd like to look into for DS (11) who really struggles with maths but isn't keen on a private tutoring session and to be honest at the moment I can't justify it financially. Something we could do together at home online sounds fab.

[LadyGreenTea]

We have used a tutor for our kids, for the 11+. The kids had an hour per week, 1-to-1 in person. The kids and I felt that the tutor built up a relationship with them, I had regular feedback and the beginning and end of lessons, and she lent the kids extra material as and when it was needed.

I'm not sue I could consider online tutoring - although I can see there are distinct advantages, I think that for my kids, they would prefer learning with someone face to face.

[woodrunner]

We had a real life tutor for DS as he was sitting 11+ exams. Maths was his weakest subject so he also did online with Khan, Bitesize and a couple of other online tutors. It was over a year ago, but iirc, Khan worked best for him. The blessing of online tutoring is - the tutors don't get grumpy if you need to go over the instructions 30 times before you get them. Unlike parents.
Khan was good - very slow and thorough.

DH and I were discussing this yesterday. I have a theory that children who aren't good at maths need it to be explained in a different way from those who are. DS2 and I always need really concrete explanations. We struggle with abstract concepts but the minute you say: If you have three cakes/ piles of buttons etc the blinkers lift and it's graspable.

We hunted around online and found the best tutors for him. Much easier to do this online than in person.

[muser31]

If not, is it something you'd ever consider? Do you think tutoring is the same as giving your child music or sports lessons, or does it put other children at a disadvantage? What do you think about Maths Doctor's approach with online tutoring? Whatever it is, we'd love to hear your thoughts!

my dd is too young right now for tutoring, but yes it is something i would consider, i don't think it puts other children at a disadvantage as all children are different and will be on different skill level. I think the approach does sound good, although might take a little bit more motivation to keep at it than have an actual tutor come to the house. i had maths tutoring myself and it helped me get a better grade in maths, as it was the subject i was the worse in.

[simpson]

DS (8) is very able in maths but unfortunately this year he has a very poor teacher.

He had an assessment with maths doctor this eve (free and around 20 mins) and loved it and so he will be having an hour a week starting next week.

[kazzawazzawoo]

We organised tutoring for our eldest daughter in biology for her A level as she was struggling. She managed to achieve a D, I don't think she would have got that grade otherwise. That was a tutor who came to our house though.

I think online tutoring is a great idea, as very accessible for children. I wouldn't hesitate to access online tutoring if necessary and affordable.

[SquirtedPerfumeUpNoseInBoots]

We were lucky enough to win a free trial. First lesson is booked for this evening, so will report back later, but I just wanted to say something about the mathsdoctor website.

Its very focussed around the location of the tutor. I just don't get this. Its online. The tutor could be in Australia, it doesn't matter. In any case, Northern Ireland and Scotland aren't mentioned, so I might think they only deal with England and Wales.

School years are different in Northern Ireland, so in the initial assessment when asked which school year he is in, Year 9 here is not the same as year 9 in England. That caused a bit of head scratching. And when asked what level he is working at, caused us faces, because we don't have them here. Offer a service but understand the customer.

While I'm at it, other comments that spring to mind. Theres no detail on the website of what the system requirements for an online service are. No mention that I need a PC running Google Chrome. That we need a Skype account already created in order to register. That we need a USB port to plug the writing tablet into.

Back later when first lesson done.

[Coffeechick]

I think a face to face tutor may be better for older children ten onwards who may need concepts explained to them. At lower age ranges which may just require learning by repetition an online tutor may help. I did quite well at maths at school so would hop to be able to help my daughter to GCSE at least

[SquirtedPerfumeUpNoseInBoots]

We'll, we have completed the lesson. I was impressed. DS is 12 and was matched with a young man maybe late teens early twenties. He explained and explained and wrote out examples and it just suddenly clicked with DS. I could see the lightbulb come on.

For those who say they would prefer face to face, again the website falls short in explaining on this. This is face to face, although using skype, and there's an interactive whiteboard so the tutor writes on screen that we can see, and the tutor sees what we write at our end. A bit like a webex session if anyone uses those in work.

To answer the specific questions:

1. What did you think of the tutor and tutor matching service? Did you like it? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes I did. Matching my DS to the same type of upper sixth boy that mentors him in school was ideal. A person to look up to, who isn't a teacher or authority figure. We were given every opportunity to specify male / female, young / older and the opportunity to change.
Maybe if we had been given the chance to say DS is dyslexic would have helped the tutor realise why the writing was sideways and why he can't really do tables. So maybe asking at assessment time if there's any learning difficulties.

1. What did you think of the online format? Did you like it? If so, why? If not, why not?

I liked it. I prefer it to taking DS to a strangers house or to having a stranger here. I could sit nearby out of line of sight of the web cam and see and hear everything without feeling like I was intruding.

1. If you've had experience with face to face tutoring, how does it compare? Do you prefer it or not? If so, why? If not, why not?

Compares favourably, and minus the travel costs. Plus DS loves tech so writing appearing on screen in front of him was a novelty factor and kept his attention which face to face and dyslexia combined do not.

1. Do you think it has helped your child? If so, how?

It has. Algebra has clicked. Even though it was probably explained the same way a hundred times before, he listened more to the online tutor better than me.

1. If it came up in conversation would you recommend the service to friends or family? If so, why? If not, why not?

I would. In fact I might even instigate the conversation!

I would seriously advise mathsdoctor to evaluate the information on their website though, from this and my previous post. It just doesn't explain what the service is.

Small criticism for thinking that NI is in Ireland, with different GCSE systems, but I'll overlook that on this occasion. It wasn't a geography lesson.

Thanks MNHQ for the opportunity to try this out.

[simpson]

Squirted - was it a hassle to set up? They are calling me tomorrow to set up the account. Where do you get the writing tablet from?

[SquirtedPerfumeUpNoseInBoots]

No, simpson it wasn't for us. But that's because we have numerous versions and gadgets of tech in this house. DS already has his own skype account, and we have a windows machine with a big monitor which has Google Chrome as an additional browser. And web cam and microphone.

It would be different if you surfed via your phone or iPad only for example.

They sent DS a writing tablet after the assessment as he couldn't "write" letter or number shapes with the mouse. Funny that, since he can't manage it with a pencil either . You need a USB port to plug that into. And it works on windows 7 or 8.

Hope you get as much out of it as we have!

[simpson]

Thanks! DS had the assessment on Monday and really enjoyed it. I have a touch screen lap top so he was fine with that. We did not need a Skype account for the assessment though, oh well, will find out more tomorrow

They (maths doctor) did say that it won't work on an iPad (boo hiss) as you need flash. I do have google chrome though (on lap top).

[mary21]

looked expensive for on line tutoring

[kelzw84]

I have used tutoring before for my son as he has dyslexia and dyspraxia and being tested to see if he is on the spectrum.

I used the tutoring for reading lessons as at the age of 7. his reading age was at 2years and 3months.

He no longer as them as he has caught up and has a reading age of an 8year old and is nearly 9.

If i felt that he needed tutoring again for any needs wheather it be reading. writting. maths or spelling then i would arrange tutoring for him.

[kelzw84]

sorry never finished writting before i clicked to post.

I dont think or believe its the same as giving music/sport lessons as to me thats like extra activites and hobbies the children ask to take part in.

I dont believe it does put other kids the same age at a disadvantage it helps the child in question keep up with children their age or catch up.

would i use maths doctor??
well firstly before deciding weather or not i would use them i would check it out properly. costs and find out if theu are suitable to help children with learning disabillitys/difficultys if they were and my child needed extra help with maths then yes i would consider them. if they didnt then no i wouldn't.

[Tiggles]

I was very pleased to be picked for this, as the younger DSs play lots of online games for maths and really enjoy it. DS1 struggles with his confidence in maths and is very worried about getting things wrong. I had no idea what the tutoring would involve.

1. What did you think of the tutor and tutor matching service? Did you like it? If so, why? If not, why not?

This worked quite well, although I think that DS actually got on better with the tutor who did his assessment than the tutor who actually ended up teaching him as he pushed him harder.

1. What did you think of the online format? Did you like it? If so, why? If not, why not?

This was great. DS has Aspergers so I could keep a look in when he looked like he was panicking but without interfering which could have happened in a face to face meeting. The tutor did look a bit bored - hand resting on chin- during the hour lesson, although I think this was more her peering at the screen rather than being bored, but could easily be misinterpreted.
Love the flexibility of it, booking lessons on an ad hoc basis as they are required so could book a single lesson on a particular area DS struggled with at school if needed.
DS liked the techy side of having his pen to write on the interactive white board.

1. If you've had experience with face to face tutoring, how does it compare? Do you prefer it or not? If so, why? If not, why not?

No experience of face to face tutoring.

1. Do you think it has helped your child? If so, how?

Yes - he is learning slowly that it is better to 'guess' an answer so the tutor/teacher can see his line of thought even if the answer is wrong, than to just answer "I don't know".

1. If it came up in conversation would you recommend the service to friends or family? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes, although I think the price would be too much for many people I know. I do know one person I may recommend it to now though.

We did have problems that the tutor wasn't given the correct time information for DSs first lesson so we sat around for 1/2 hour waiting for her to appear in the classroom. But everybody was very helpful and polite in trying to sort it out so no obvious issues with customer service.

Like PP I don't think the website does justice to the service received.

[Tiggles]

Oh and we didn't use Skype - the tutors face appeared in the top of the screen. When we were having tech difficulties in hearing her she suggested we use Skype instead, then we realised DSs headphones were broken!

[IWasThere4Aug12]

I would consider tutoring for DSs if they needed it but my preference would be to help them myself therefore parent ideas for making a subject fun and engaging would be helpful

[RockinHippy]

Can I ask if any other product testers are MAC users ?? -

I've just hit a problem with the tablet that Maths Doctor have sent me - I was told it is compatible with MAC, but nothing on the box or manual seems to say it actually is & my MAC mini doesn't want to install it (exe files)

Anyone else had this problem, is it running okay on your own MAC ??
I have contacted the tablet suppliers, but its a 48 hour reply & was hoping to review a lesson by then as we are already late due to DD breaking her writing arm

TIA