Teaching online lessons is an art that requires a somewhat different approach from working in a classroom. But after a few weeks of practice most tutors admit they would not go back to in-person.
Equipment and connection: what is the absolute minimum?
An internet connection above 10 Mbps download and upload is enough for an HD video lesson. A headset or headphones with a microphone are definitely better than the laptop’s built-in microphone – you eliminate echo and ambient noise. The camera built into a laptop is usually enough, but an external USB one significantly improves quality in natural light. Lighting: sit facing a window or buy a ring lamp. A dark face in the frame undermines professionalism – and that is an easy problem to fix.
Tools for online lessons
On Sprelli you have a lesson room with HD video, a whiteboard for drawing and writing and a text chat, and separately a module of interactive quizzes. Also useful: Google Docs for collaborating on documents in real time; Quizlet for flashcards and words in foreign languages; Canva for creating simple, attractive materials; Photomath or WolframAlpha for checking calculations.
How to hold a student’s attention through a screen?
An online lesson requires more frequent interaction than an in-person one. Ask questions every 5–7 minutes. Let the student write or draw something on the whiteboard, solve a task or answer before you finish explaining. Avoid 30-minute monologues – even the most interesting ones.
A short break after 45 minutes is the natural rhythm. Longer sessions (90 minutes) require more student activity so that focus does not drop.
The online whiteboard: how to use it?
Sprelli has tools for drawing, text and importing photos. A few practical rules: use a thick pen (thin lines are hard to see), start the lesson with an empty whiteboard (clutter on the screen distracts), write down what is important – the student can return to the whiteboard from the previous lesson.
Drawing graphs of functions, chemical diagrams or concept maps on an online whiteboard is often more effective than showing ready-made slides – the student follows the process, not just the result.
Homework and materials in digital form
Avoid paper scans – the student has to print or write on screen, which is awkward. Use editable PDFs, links to online tasks or simple lists in a message after the lesson. Platforms such as Khan Academy, Matematyka.pl or Duolingo can replace some of the homework and are easier to check.
The most common technical problems and how to solve them
**A dropped connection:** always have the student’s or parent’s phone number. If the video fails, finish the lesson through chat or phone – count it as a full lesson. **Audio delays:** ask the student to close other tabs and background apps. **Echo:** one of you should use headphones. **The camera does not work:** an “audio only” lesson is fully valuable for most subjects – do not give up, adapt.